Peranakan Tile Workshop

The final print - and then other designs possible by reversing the block! 

Powered on pineapple tarts, this workshop is fast-paced and fun! It's great to see the different carving styles and printed effects. I love to see participants come from zero carving experience to creating a beautiful matrix that they can use for multiple projects - cards, envelopes and even for fabric prints!

Don't miss the fun - join our next workshop in March! 

Work in Progress - Pieces of Place

'Pieces of Place' series kicks off with a site-specific work for the CREATIVE Objects vs. CREATIVE PEOPLE project at European furniture boutique Mobel Story Singapore. Join us for the cocktail party 6:00pm - 9:00pm on Saturday 20 February, 2016 at Mobel!  Please 'Like' my TEAM #5 on the Möbel Story Singapor FB page and help me win this competition!

This elegant and solid living room combination from the Hulsta Now! TIME collection is a key piece for displaying cherished photos, loved books and carefully curated objects. I chose this unit to fit with my exploration into the notion of ‘home’ and the desire to belong somewhere. I’ve used a mixture of patterns, place names and phrases in an attempt to define my personal connection to Singapore - my father’s homeland.

I view heritage tiles on graves and property owned by my Hokkien and Peranakan ancestors as a symbol of trade and cultural exchange in this region. My incorporation of phrases from Malay and Chinese are broken up by ‘gaps’ in my tiled wall - reflecting my limited understanding of these languages and a fragmented knowledge of my family history. Each tile motif for this site specific artwork was originally created using Japanese woodblock printing and screenprint.

Photographer: Nathalie Ziegler, White Frangipani Photography

CNY Linocut Workshop on Channel 8

A workshop of mine recently featured on online TV for a Chinese New Year special documentary! Channel 8 online filmed my CNY Linocut workshop at Naiise as part of a program about businesses catering to the festive season. My segment starts at the 04:50 mark on this short video. 

(English translation of original transcript) 

The WOW Show - Chinese New Year Special

(Script translated from Mandarin original broadcast)

"Aside from all the food, another thing everyone loves about the Chinese New Year is getting red packets! Lucky red packets come in all shapes and sizes, but there's something genuine and heartwarming about getting lucky money in an envelope hand-crafted by a loved-one.

One local artist is using the approaching New Year to host a one-day workshop that teaches students how to make red packets out of linocut prints. She teaches the process in three steps. First, transfer any image you want from tracing paper onto a piece of linoleum. Next, carve out the image using various carving tools. Finally, place ink on the linoleum and print the image on a piece of paper, which can then be folded into a red packet. This two and a half hour class costs $95.

Participants' ages range from 20 to 60+ years. What was it about this class that appealed to them? Let's hear what they had to say.

Participant 1: I have always been interested in linoblock work, and Jennifer was providing a basic course, so it was interesting to be able to be introduced to the topic.

Participant 2: I have always been interested in arts and craft, actually I have attended quite a few arts and craft, hands‐on workshops in Singapore, like calligraphy, candle‐making classes and all.

The instructor and host of the workshop told us that linoleum printing is good for beginners, not to mention primary-schoolers!

Jennifer Lim: ...because we use rubber and it's very soft, it's suitable for beginners, and even upper primary school children. I feel printmaking does tend to require one to be a bit careful because you are using inks and paper. It can be messy at times, but I think the students find it meditative, the process of printmaking, and the results they have are really great.

And just how would students rate the workshop in terms of difficulty? What part do they find to be most challenging?

Participant 3:...difficulty on a scale of 10? Maybe 3 out of 10. The most challenging was actually doing the line work, carving the block.

Participant 4: Six maybe. What I find it difficult is using the tools to carve on the rubber... even rubber is not easy, especially for someone like me who is doing it for the first time."

---

(Mandarin language original transcript)

流行挖哇WOW 

大家在农历新年除了关注吃的，也很爱领红包吧！红包市场上的红包袋款式包罗万象，但如果能在农历新年收到对方亲手制作的红包袋，相信满满的诚意，就更令人感到温馨。

本地就有艺术家趁着佳节来临之际，开办一天课程，教导学生们如何以麻胶版画制作红包袋。过程主要包括三个步骤。首先，是将画在描图纸上的心仪图案转印在橡胶板上。之后，再使用雕刻工具刻出图案。最后加上涂料印在纸上，就能折成红包袋。这个长达两个半小时的课程，价格为一人95元。

而参与者的年龄也介于20多岁到60多岁。那是什么吸引他们参与这个课程呢？现在就来听听参与者怎么说。

参与者说，“我一向对麻胶版画都感兴趣，而现在有这个基本课程，能接触到麻胶版画很有趣。”

（I have always been interested in linoblock work, and Jennifer was providing a basic course, so it was interesting to be able to be introduced to the topic.）

另一名参与者则表示，“我一向对艺术与手工品有兴趣，其实我已在本地参与过几个类似的课程，如书法和制作蜡烛的课程等。”

（I have always been interested in arts and craft, actually i have attended quite a few arts and craft, hands-on workshop in Singapore, like calligraphy, candle-making classes and all）

创办人就告诉我们，麻胶版画绝对适合初学者，甚至是小学生！

创办人林薇美说：“我们使用橡胶板，它是很软的，所以我认为是适合初学者，甚至是小学高年级生。麻胶版画使用涂料和纸张，有时会有些乱，所以需要小心。但我认为学生们会觉得过程能让他们沉思，而他们取得的效果是好的。”

（...because we use rubber and it's very soft, it's suitable for beginners, and even upper primary school children. I feel print making does tend to require one to be a bit careful because you are using inks and paper. It can be messy at times, but i think the students find it meditative, the process of print making, and the results they have are really great.）

那如果要为课程的难度打分，学生们会打几分呢？他们又认为那一部分最有挑战性？

参与者表示，“难度方面，10分内可能打三分吧。最有挑战性的是雕刻方面。”

(...difficulty on a scale of 10,maybe 3 out of 10. the most challenging was actually doing the line work, carving the block.)

另一名参与者则表示，“可能是六分吧。困难的绝对是雕刻在橡胶板上，即使是橡胶板也不容易，尤其是对我们这些初学者而言。”

(...6 maybe.what i find it difficult is using the tools to carve on the rubber.. even rubber is not easy, especially for someone like me who is doing it for the first time.)

My Lim Clan Connection

Seeing my great grandfather's name inscribed on a plaque in Singapore has been a magical experience. I recently visited a clan temple on Cantonment Road to find out about my great grandfather Lim Nee Yam.  An operator of small lighter boats on the Singapore River, Nee Yam was born in Fujian, China in 1887. After trying to do some research about him online, I was approached a volunteer history buff who found out that Nee Yam had donated a considerable sum to help build the clan's ancestral hall in 1928.

Cleaning of the ancestral tablet display cabinet before the Winter Solstice event.

Operated by the Singapore Lim See Tai Chong Soo Kiu Liong Tong, or Lim Clan Nine Dragon Hall Mutual Help Association, this clan house is devoted to the deceased carrying the surname of ‘Lim’ or 林 (Lim can also be pronounced as Lin, Lam, Lum, Liem and Ling!). The Nine Dragon Hall refers to the nine sons (dragons often symbolise men) of influential clan member, Lin Gao, during the Zhao dynasty. I was a little amused to see references to so many people with my surname. Back in Australia, people often struggle with my three-letter last name! 

The marble tablet at the front of the building lists the founding contributors. The further to the right, the larger the donation!

It was an amazing feeling to see my great-grandfather’s name on the stone plaque at the building entrance. If your name was close to the right side of the plaque, it meant that you had made the largest donation. I first learned about clans at the Chinatown Heritage Centre in Singapore and how they supported newcomers by connecting them with fellow settlers. Members would help one another get jobs, find accommodation and generally looked out for each other. Judging from the displays at the Centre, life in the old days was tough, so I imagine that these clan associations were crucial to one’s survival.

My great grandfather, Lim Nee Yam.

I got this photo from my grand uncle, who kept many of the family records. Apparently Nee Yam came out from Shantou with his father, Lim Hong Eok (born 1855). According to family gossip, they went back and forth to China for a while but due to a dispute with a neighbour in their hometown, they stopped travelling there. Their neighbours accused Hong Eok of causing bad luck to them through his new house extension. 

Mazu, the Goddess of the Sea.

The main area on the first floor of the Nine Dragon Hall holds many ancestral tablets, and I saw people praying to loved ones by lighting three sticks of incense and bowing. The second floor is devoted to Mazu, a Chinese patron goddess is also known as Goddess of the Sea. Worshipped in many Chinese coastal regions and in Japan, she is a popular figure among sea-faring communities. Her surname is also Lim, and for this reason she is considered the ‘Great Aunt’ of the Lim clan.

Great architectural features - thanks for being in the right place, Mum!

The Jade Emperor is also worshipped on the second floor, and his shrine sits out on a balcony overlooking the street. As the most important figure in the hall, he is traditionally worshipped first during ceremonies. I was also taken up to the flat rooftop, where I was shown bits of the old shrine display. I had thought the current one looked a bit too shiny! The building itself is in need of repairs here and there and I was pleased to hear that they would be doing some upgrading works soon.

I counted over 13 different types of decorative tiles used throughout the building.

I was warmly welcomed by many people who would have been my father’s age. One chap told me that often people only becoming interested in praying to their ancestors as they themselves get older and reflect on life. I’ve been motivated a little earlier in life due to the sudden passing of older family members and my wish to find out as much as possible now. I've very grateful for the help of a volunteer member from the FB Group Heritage Singapore - Bukit Brown Cemetery. 

I love the adoption of many Western architectural influences including Dorian columns.

I’m now signed up as a member and look forward to several events this year. The ladies’ karaoke committee is keen to have me join, so I know there’s somewhere to go on a Saturday afternoon if I wish to warble!

A recent invite to a Chinese New Year dinner!

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Press Play Series: Peranakan Linocut

Lovely to spend a Sunday afternoon with such an enthusiastic group of creators today! Enjoyed seeing their artwork and confidence develop as they mastered the basics of linocut printing in 2.5 hours...Book now for the next Peranakan Tile Linocut workshop on Saturday 27 February 2016 - limited places! 

#pressplaysg #jenniferlimartist #linocut #artworkshopsg

National Library Arts Program

Press Play 3 has kicked off! For the next three months, the National Library of Singapore is running an exciting program of creative workshops and events aimed at bringing in young adults to the libraries around town. 

I'm honoured to be part of this yearly program and excited about teaching Peranakan Linocut - one of a few boutique workshops that I run regularly. We're going to learn how to transfer, carve and print - and enjoy designs often seen on Peranakan tiles. By the way, what is Peranakan? You can learn more here!  

You could also win a voucher to one of my Peranakan Art workshops worth SGD$95! Make sure to follow the instructions on the Press Play 3 Facebook page. 

Don't worry if you missed out on this library workshop as I've got a workshop set for 10am-12.30pm, Saturday 27 February 2016. Details to come - contact me to book your spot!  

New Artwork Off To Italy

My latest work Singapore Story 1 will be part of the Imago Mundi show in Italy later this year!

Imago Mundi, meaning 'World Picture' in Italian, is an art project being run between Wina gallery, Indonesia, & Fondazionesarenco & Fondazionesarenco Benetton, Italy. It was great to meet Antonius Kho from Wina gallery recently and talk about his involvement. 

According to the website, Imago Mundi is the collection of works commissioned and collected by Luciano Benetton on his travels around the world, involving, on a voluntary and non-profit basis, established and emerging artists from many different countries.

Inspired by local Victorian era majolica tiles, I've incorporated place names around Singapore in Chinese and English text. Kisses and Hugs From Singapore is a similar collage work on a larger scale and available for sale. 

Singapore Story 1, Japanese woodblock, 12cm x 10cm, detail

Straits Family Sunday

Peranakan culture buffs - don't miss out on the Straits Family Sunday afternoon event on this Sunday 10th January 2016 at the Peranakan Museum in Singapore! Great chance for your kids to dress up in sarong kebaya or batik! 

Peranakan Association Magazine Feature

THE PERANAKAN BY THE PERANAKAN ASSOCIATION SINGAPORE

It's humbling to have my work Where is My Heart and Tile Trade: Wealth & Luck featured in The Peranakan's issue 1 of 2016. I talk with Nyonya Dawn Marie Lee about my journey of discovering my roots in Singapore and beyond. Read the article. 

Artist Talk & Demonstration @ LUDO Gallery

It was fantastic to have so many people come for my recent artist talk & demonstration at LUDO Gallery! I always love to chat about the history of Japanese woodblock, Peranakan tiles and the nitty gritty of producing art. Don't miss my last talk at 1pm on Saturday 14 November - book your free spot now! 

Inking up! 

Now I've finished the yellow flowers...

It's time to mix up watercolour paint for the next colour. 

An example of the block. 

For this demonstration, I've used an image from my Easy-Print Workshop. A reproduction of a European tile found in Singapore, this print has four colours separated into three blocks.  It takes me around 3 hours to carve each block. Image size is 10 x 10cm - small but sweet! 

Jennifer's Art Opening at LUDO Gallery

Temasak Travel, 2015, mixed media. 

Hugs and Kisses From Singapore, 2015, mixed media 

Behind every great woman is an even greater one - LUDO Gallery Director Brenda Dwyer

Good food, good wine - everyone loves an art show opening! Thanks to all who made it - it was a very humbling and fantastic feeling to gather family, friends and supporters around to celebrate my journey back into art. 

A special thank you to LUDO Gallery Director Brenda Dwyer for her ongoing encouragement and support. It was also great to have Mr. Richard Tan, Creative Director for the Peranakan Arts Festival, be part of the night. I look forward to demonstrating at the upcoming festival. I'd also like to thank my parents - particularly for giving me lots of cultural sources to draw upon! 

For those who couldn't make it, please pop around or drop me a line. It would be great to show you around! The exhibition runs through November 15, 2015. 

LUDO Gallery 

261 Waterloo Street, #02-05 Waterloo Centre, Singapore 180261

Ph: +65 6337 1727.  Contact: curator@ludo.gallery

Open: Mon - Fri 10am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am - 4pm

Melbourne Specialist International School

I'm pleased to be able to make a small contribution to a fundraising event organised by Melbourne Specialist International School. It's good that I could use my trade to help in a small way to such a good cause. Read more about the Peranakan Peony series. 

 

 

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Peranakan Linocut @ Singapore Library Press Play Program

Peranakan Linocut workshop to hit Press Play Program! This year, Press Play had a heap of interesting workshops. In 2016, I'll be helping crafty people in Singapore learn about linocut, Peranakan culture and (maybe!) kueh sweets! Yep, we'll be a 'carving and 'printing our way to some gorgeous work! More details to come!