Looking Back at The Substation Archive by Koh Nguang How
Moderated by Woon Tien Wei
19 November 2020 (Thurs)
7.30pm - 9pm
Digital talk on Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/98874848048
In this online talk, artist and researcher Koh Nguang How looks backs at his contributions to the archive of The Substation and shares his reflections on a variety of images and events over the course of its history.
From 1990 to 2001, The Substation was a “second home” to former National Museum worker Koh (Museum Assistant, Oct 1985 to Feb 1992). Since joining the museum, he started photographing the city landscapes undergoing changes and demolitions. The new Substation was to become his place to go to after work at the museum’s art gallery to meet his artistic peers and learn new things about performance events (theatre, dance, music).
The Substation Garden then became the venue for his first solo exhibition at end of 1990, as well as other group events. He officially and voluntarily photographed and collected ephemera related to events at The Substation from 1990 to 2001. These events include, “Round-the-clock at the Sub”, "First Anniversary Walk-a-Jog", “The Tree Celebration”, “Guinness Raw Theatre”, “Dance Space”, “Music Space”, “Free Verse”, “New Criteria” and many other talks, workshops, exhibitions and gigs.
Koh Nguang How was born in Singapore in 1963. He worked with the National Museum Art Gallery as curatorial assistant from October 1985 to January 1992. His artistic practice started in 1988 and encompasses photography, collage, installation, performance, documentation, archiving and curating. He has been associated with the art collective ‘The Artists Village’ since 1989. He created his first “archive as art” work called “4 Days in August” in late 1987. He started to exhibit art archives from 1992 in “Performance Week” at Gallery 21, Singapore and initiated his “Singapore Art Archive Project” (SAAP) in 2005; subsequently presenting various thematic works and exhibitions under the SAAP in Singapore and abroad.
This talk is presented as part of The Substation’s Arts Education Programme.