Digital artworks by BT Budding Artists Fund youths on show at Tekka Place

Singapore

CATS leap into a blank canvas. An electrocardiogram beats across a mixed-media work on canvas. A human face morphs into a myriad of kaleidoscopic shapes.

These images that appear from the use of augmented reality (AR) filters are part of an exhibition of 13 digital artworks by 9 beneficiaries between the ages of 14 and 18 of The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF), now on at Tekka Place.

Titled KaleidoShapes: Reflect10ns, the interactive works use digital technology such as Makey Makey, projection mapping and AR to enrich mall content and enhance the sense of space.

The exhibition is part of Tekka Place's efforts to create platforms and support programmes by artistically gifted children and youths from underserved families in their efforts to give back to the community through their art.

Said Tony Fong, director of Tekka Place developer Corwin Holdings, at the exhibition's launch: "Tekka Place is committed to making a positive impact on the community and we are pleased that through our spaces in the mall, we can provide a platform for deserving young talents to showcase their work.

"Besides bringing art to the local community, the exhibition also presents an opportunity for young people to further their inherent creativity, and we are glad to support and work with BT BAF to nurture new talents."

Managed by not-for-profit arts organisation TRCL, BT BAF provides arts education for children and youths from economically distanced backgrounds through its 2 training centres, Little Arts Academy and 10Square Youth.

KaleidoShapes: Reflect10ns is an annual exhibition by youths from the Arts Incubation Programme at 10Square Youth.

Said young visual arts talent and BT BAF beneficiary Melati Bte Jahari, 17: "It is a great feeling to have my works exhibited in a mall because this means having a larger group of people see my work. This is not an opportunity I get often.

"Through use of digital technology in our art works, I hope that the exhibition will inspire people will see life's situations from different angles, just like the different shapes in a kaleidoscope."

The exhibition is on till Mar 19 at Tekka Place. Admission is free.

Visitors to the physical exhibition space will have to download the Artivive app on their phones to view the AR works.

The exhibition can also be viewed as a virtual gallery at https://edu.cospaces.io/QYT-ACC on a desktop, or via the CoSpaces mobile app using the code QYT-ACC.