Two sculptors celebrated in unusual fashion

IT IS not every day that a gallery decides to go for a total makeover. But that’s exactly what Art Agenda has done for its two-man exhibition featuring the wood sculptures of Joseph McNally (1923 - 2002) and Shui Tit Sing (1914 - 1997).

The main wall is adorned by coarsely painted fabrics. The floor is covered by a series of planks that lead you towards and around the artworks. The lighting is striking and dramatic, accentuating the angular lines and planes of the sculptures. There are mounds of soil, metal and mirrors lying about, evoking the feel of a weird postmodern industrial garden.  

The scenography is the brainchild of young art director Gagandeep Singh Sidhu, who typically designs sets for fashion shows and music videos. (He created the wacky sets for Yung Raja’s music video Mami.) Instead of playing by the rules of showcasing Singapore 20th century art, he opted for an iconoclastic stance instead – which, in a way, pays appropriate tribute to McNally and Shui, who were visionaries of their time.