Painting landscapes and flowers may not be groundbreaking in the world of art, but Korean artist Lee Kiyoung has certainly brought it to a deeply meditative, even spiritual, level with his sublime depiction of beautiful blossoms, which are rendered deliberately in stark black and white. Through his paintings, Lee seeks to express a bio rhythm that is quick, explosive, seemingly random yet exquisitely fragile. His paintings create a sense of the unceasing ebb and flow of time and capture the nostalgic joy of experiencing eternity through the changing seasons of nature.

When it comes to his art, the creative process is as important and significant as the result. Integrating the ink painting traditions of ink stick, brush and hanji paper to the fluid concept of contemporary art, he applies the method of dry mural painting. By plastering his Korean paper with slaked lime numerous times before painting, it is able to keep moisture from moving and hold more Korean ink, thus creating Lee’s signature ink pigment effect.

While his artworks are meant to look spontaneous, simple and natural, the process of painting them is an ironically intricate, complex and labour-intensive one that involves repeated drawing, erasing and re-painting. Lush in symbolic representation, this entire process ‘is to express the built up energy and vitality of nature’. The omnipresent power and eternal spirit of nature influence every one of Lee’s paintings.

Witness the bloom at the MAD Museum of Art and Design from 16th July 2011 till 16th August 2011.

MAD Museum of Art & Design is located at #03-01, Mandarin Gallery

It seems that so much of the contemporary art that came out of China in recent times are inspired by the socio-political developments in the Middle Kingdom. But how could they not be, when everything is changing so rapidly?

Unsurprisingly, Song Wei, a successful young artist from Sichuan, is greatly influenced by the zeitgeist. You may not recognise his name but you will likely recall seeing his works; they centre around an iconic blue bear covered in motifs one finds on Ming Dynasty vases. Song Wei’s bears are often depicted in everyday situations, such as eating a lollipop, or playing with toy blocks. While these paintings appear fun and carefree, deeper significance can be gleaned from them. The impact of Western merchandise, the changes in Chinese values and mentality are meticulously reflected in Song Wei’s works.

While these experiences reflect what he and his contemporaries have gone through, his works have relevant implications for the current situation in China. That ‘Chinese’ motif engraved on the bear has become a major trait of his work. It could also mean that we have long been stamped with the Chinese mark, which makes his work even more appealing. Song Wei was born in Sichuan in 1980, has held several solo exhibitions and his works are largely sought after by many private collectors in Europe, France, China and Singapore.

Song Wei’s Beary Ambitious Play solo exhibition, which partnered with the Children Development Centre (CDC), is held at M.A.D. Museum of Art & Design. Now, you can stand a chance to win one of 20 Beary Ambitious Play tees.

Simply submit your answers to the following 3 questions to mandaringallery[dot]sg[at]gmail[dot]com by 1 July 2011, along with your full details including name, contact number and address.

1. Where was Song Wei born?
2. Where (which gallery/museum)  did Song Wei hold his exhibition in Singapore?
3. Which charity fund is involved with MAD Museum and Song Wei exhibition in Singapore?

20 lucky winners will be contacted via email after 1 July 2011 with instructions on how to collect their prices in Singapore

With a population of 1.2 billion, it can be very difficult to stand out in China. So imagine how talented you must be to be Chen Yifei,one of China’s greatest contemporary artists, film-makers, fashion designers and cultural exports. With his death in 2005, the world lost a brilliant man whose dedication to the arts and relentless pursuit of perfection is legendary. To commemorate the sixth anniversary of his passing, the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) will be hosting an exhibition of his later works to pay tribute to his art, life and spirit.

In his short 59 years, Chen Yifei had experienced and accomplished enough to fill a few lifetimes. A leading painter of the Cultural Revolution, Chen was well-known for his iconic portraits of Mao Zedong and moving depictions of major revolutionary events. His transition from a successful communist artist to the western-style purveyor of lifestyle and fashion that he became in later years could not have been an easy one, but he managed it with his signature flair.

Having studied in the USA, his works from 1980 to 1990 married Realist techniques and European Romanticism with traditional Chinese themes. His colourful paintings of Tibetan landscapes and women in traditional dresses shot him to stardom on the international art scene. Having broken a string of auction records, the admiration he received from critics of both the East and the West cemented his position as one of the top artists of our time.

Requiem is a collection of his works that blurs the visual aesthetics between art and film. The visual experience of these paintings can be likened to cinematic storytelling with beautifully stylised characters. For the first time in Singapore, these pieces will be displayed exclusively at MAD. Whether you are a beginner or enthusiast in the appreciation of art, you will be blown away and utterly inspired by Chen Yifei’s last paintings, which are worthy reflections of his extraordinary legacy.

Requiem (in loving memory of Chen Yifei) will be exhibited at the Museum of Art and Design, #03-01, Mandarin Gallery, from 9 April 2011 to 9 May 2011

The next time you find yourself at Mandarin Gallery, you may like to give the shopping a break and art a chance. The private Museum of Art & Design (M.A.D) located on the third floor of the mall is a must-visit for fans of contemporary art. Housing rare and usually inaccessible pieces, M.A.D’s objective is to create excitement and awareness among those who have little exposure to and experience with modern art. With an impressive line-up of exhibitions and events relating to fashion, art, design and life, the museum is meant for both art lovers and amateurs.

Passionate about what they do, you can count on the people behind M.A.D to bring you the latest happenings in the art scene. For instance, the museum will be presenting high profile Chinese contemporary artists, Zeng Fanzhi and Ai Weiwei, at the annual Art Stage which officially kicks off today at Marina Bay Sands.

For those who enjoy the childlike appeal of cartoonish pop art, Yoshitomo Nara is one artist that you should not miss. Having burst onto the scene during the Japanese Pop Art Movement in the 1990s, Nara is known for his intriguing children characters. At first glance, these children may seem simple and cute but a closer look will reveal that they may not be so innocent. Usually portrayed with expressions of irritation and annoyance (maybe even hate), they are often drawn with objects like weapons and cigarettes in hand. These bizarrely incongruent details in his art, in the form of sculptures, paintings and even street art, have won Nara a strong cult following among art critics and artsy hipsters alike.

Nara’s framed prints are available for sale at SGD450 each at M.A.D Museum of Art & Design, #03-01, Mandarin Gallery