2020
First presented in 2019 in Venice, Italy, Music For Everyone: Variations on a Theme, the solo exhibition of artist Song-Ming Ang, was held at the Singapore Pavilion of the 58th Venice Biennale, one of the most prestigious international contemporary art platforms. The exhibition references a series of concerts organised by the then Singapore’s Ministry of Culture from 1971 to 1985 of the same name. For the artist, the idea of “Music for Everyone” is not just music that can be enjoyed by all, but also what could be created by the everyman – the amateur or non-professional. The exhibition proposes a vision of art that is egalitarian, beyond state-prescribed musical forms and conventional notions of “worthy” art.
This homecoming presentation, held at National Museum of Singapore, features nine works that engage with structures and contexts of music-making, revealing how music can be a ground for ideological contest, capable of accommodating state agendas while allowing for agency, ambiguity and dissonance to emerge.
Accolades
C2A Creative Communication Award – Winner in Museum exhibitions / Exhibition design
DNA Paris Design Awards 2021 (Graphic Design/Colorful Design)– Winner
Through a series of exploratory discussions with the artistic team and in the spirit of music making, we formulated the overall concept to present this homecoming show as a 're-mix' of the original presentation in Venice.
National Museum of Singapore
58th Venice Art Biennale 2019 (Singapore Pavilion), Venice, Italy
The exhibition starts off with a graphical corridor showcasing clippings and news extracts from the 1980s, charting the historical significance of this particular period of time, allowing visitors to have an in-depth read about and setting the tone before encountering the artist's works.
A clear intervention we designed was the use of playful colour blocks in the branding and spatial design, a stark contrast from the quiet tones used in the Venice presentation. The different blocks of vibrant tones are designed to juxtapose each other — at times lively and free-flowing, whilst dignified in other instances, creating a space that can be enjoyed by all. This also parallels the spontaneity and improvisation of music, a major running theme throughout the artist's works presented in this show.
Sound plays a key part in the exhibition, with each area having its own interactive exhibits presenting different key narratives.
Towards the end of the exhibition, visitors are brought to a multi-sensory room anchored by the artist's You & I work. Designed to resemble a cosy living room filled with letters written to the artist, each note is paired with mixtapes he made in response to these, creating an atmospheric space in which the experience of the show ends nicely on a contemplative note.
