PARALLEL UNIVERSES by OM MEE AI by Art Projects Gallery

PARALLEL UNIVERSES OM MEE AI

ART PROJECTS GALLERY 10th Nov - 15th Dec 2012

PARALLEL UNIVERSES OM MEE AI

Art Projects Gallery is proud to present “PARALLEL UNIVERSES”, a solo exhibition by Singapore-based Korean artist, Om Mee Ai, who is known for her unique geometric abstract paintings in intense monochromatic hues. Om’s abstract oil painting compositions convey a sense of serenity and calm that belies its complex framework and intricate structural order that is inherent from the artist’s meticulous painting process of repetitive “taping, layering, and wiping”. The technique of “taping, layering and wiping” is a process that demands great patience, focus and discipline. The rigorous process begins with using tapes to create an underlying grid structure onto the canvas that serve as guides. Om then adds a translucent layer of color onto the unmasked portions of the canvas and then wipes away portions as desired before the paint dries up. The tapes are removed to make way for the next layer. This basic process is repeated multiple of times, each time slightly shifting the grid and adding a translucent layer of color onto the previous layer. The wiping process imbues the painting with an added dimension of subtle variations in color tones and visual dynamism. As such, no two paintings can be created the same using this technique, each a record and reflection of the circumstances during its creation. 4

Upon closer scrutiny, Om’s works reveal a deeper sensory experience brought about by the interplay of textures, colors, lighting and the artwork’s environ. The viewer makes personal connections subject to their individual emotions and interpretation, an objective the artist would like to achieve from her work, with each painting having the ability to invoke an internal reality that forms differently with each individual. The artwork titles in this collection, kept deliberately cryptic by the artist, further allow for this freedom, allowing the works to be appreciated without any pre-conception. Each painting becomes an abstracted microcosm of the real world; each exists in the mind of the viewer as a parallel universe. Om’s professional qualifications include a Master of Fine Art (Painting) from The Open University, UK in 2006, a Bachelor of Fine Art at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in 2003 and a Diploma in Fine Art (Painting) from LASALLE College of the Arts Singapore in 2002. Om has won many awards for her works, most notably achieving the feat of winning the prestigious UOB Painting of the Year Competition (Abstract Category) threes times in 2003, 2006 and 2007. Om has participated in solo and group exhibitions extensively. Her

works feature in important collections such as the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), SAM Art Bank Collection, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Manpower, United Overseas Bank, Philip Morris Singapore, European Financial Group, INSEAD Business School (Asia Campus), and Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Singapore and Jakarta, Indonesia. Goh Ray Vees Co-Founder of Art Projects Gallery 5

M-LGG #02 (Light Gray Green) 150 x 150 cm Oil on Canvas 2012

M-LMG (LIGHT MINT GREEN) 150 x 150 cm Oil on Canvas 2012

M-STF 150 x 150 cm Oil on Canvas 2012

M-RED 150 x 150 cm Oil on Canvas 2012

W-WWY 122 x 122 cm Oil on Canvas 2011 14

W-WWP 122 x 122 cm Oil on Canvas 2011

W-WWG 122 x 122 cm Oil on Canvas 2011 15

M-DKG 122 x 122 cm Oil on Canvas 2011

OM MEE AI 1959 Born in Korea. Lives and works in Singapore. EDUCATION 2006 Master of Fine Art (Painting). The Open University, UK 2003 Bachelor of Fine Art (Painting) with High Distinction, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Australia 2002 Diploma in Fine Art (Painting) with Distinction, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore SOLO EXHIBITIONS  2012 PARALLEL UNIVERSES by Om Mee Ai, Art Projects Gallery, Hong Kong 2012 Om Mee Ai, Chan Hampe Galleries, Singapore 2011 IDYLLS, Richard Koh Fine Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Art, Wine & Otsumami, OMMEEAIStudio, Milan, Italy 2010 Om Mee Ai, Chan Hampe Galleries, Singapore Om Mee Ai Open Studio in Milan, OMMEEAIStudio, Milan, Italy 2009 Nebula, Chapel Gallery, Sculpture Square, Singapore 2008 Abstract Abstract, Taksu Gallery, Singapore 2007 Abstract Beauty, Artist Residence @ 157 Tembeling, Singapore 2006 Making the Grid, Taksu Gallery, Singapore Om Mee Ai: Solo 2, Red Dot Gallery, Singapore 2004 Grids & Intarsia, SG Gallery, Alliance Francaise, Singapore SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS  2012 ENCOUNTER: The Royal Academy in Asia, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Singapore galleryseoul 12, GALLERIA FORÊT Convention Hall, Seoul, Korea PANORAMA: Recent Art from Contemporary Asia, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore The 2011 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists, The Sands Expo and Convention Center, Singapore 2011 Ueno Fukutoshi, Kaori Kato & Om Mee Ai, Spiro Grace Art Rooms, Australia Women Artists in Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Sabbie & Nebula, OMMEEAIStudio, Milan, Italy 2010 Dis/placement:6, Institute of Contemporary Arts, Singapore The 2010 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists, ARTSPACE@Helutrans, Singapore 2009 The 28th UOB Painting of the Year, Jendela, Esplanade, Singapore 2008 The 2008 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists, Landmark Atrium, Hong Kong 18

The 2008 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists, NAFA Galleries I & II, Singapore 2007 Hopscotched, Jendela, Esplanade, Singapore The 2007 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists, Landmark Atrium, Hong Kong The 26th UOB Painting of the Year, Jendela, Esplanade, Singapore 2006 The 25th UOB Painting of the Year, Jendela, Esplanade, Singapore MA Fine Arts Degree Show 2006, Earl Lu Gallery, Singapore 2005 Philip Morris Singapore Arts Awards 2005, NAFA Galleries I & II, Singapore 2004 Philip Morris ASEAN Art Awards 2004, National Art Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand The 23rd UOB Painting of the Year, Tunnel, Esplanade, Singapore THE LASALLE SCHOOL: 20 Years of Fine Arts from LASALLE College of the Arts, Earl Lu Gallery I & II & Alumni Centre, Singapore 2003 Philip Morris Singapore-ASEAN Art Awards 2003, Atrium, MICA, Singapore Bilateral Bonds, Taksu Gallery, Malaysia & Singapore The 22nd UOB Painting of the Year, Jendela, Esplanade, Singapore Taksu Singapore grand opening Group Exhibition 2003, Taksu Gallery, Singapore No Apologies: 10th RMIT University Bachelor of Fine Art Graduation Exhibition, Earl Lu Gallery I, Singapore 2002 NewWorks by 7 Contemporary Artists, Art Motion Gallery, Singapore Complementary, Earl Lu Gallery II, Singapore ARTillery: 26th LASALLE Diploma in Fine Art Graduation Exhibition, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore AWARDS 2011 The 2011 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Singapore Finalists, Sovereign Art Foundation, Hong Kong 2010 The 2010 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Singapore Finalists, Sovereign Art Foundation, Hong Kong 2009 Platinum Award, The 28th UOB Painting of the Year Competition, Singapore 2008 The 2008 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists, Sovereign Art Foundation, Hong Kong 2007 Winner of the Abstract Category, The 26th UOB Painting of the Year Competition, Singapore The 2007 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists, Sovereign Art Foundation, Hong Kong 2006 Winner of the Abstract Category, The 25th UOB Painting of the Year Competition, Singapore 2005 Honourable Mention, Philip Morris Singapore Arts Awards 2005, Singapore 2004 NAC Emerging Artist Grant (Visual Arts), National Art Council, Singapore Certificate of Recognition, Philip Morris ASEAN Art Awards 2004, Thailand Highly-Commended, The 23rd UOB Painting of the Year Competition, Singapore 2003 Juror’s Choice, Philip Morris Singapore-ASEAN Art Awards 2003, Singapore Winner of the Abstract Category, The 22nd UOB Painting of the Year Competition, Singapore

SELECTED PUBLIC & CORPORATE COLLECTIONS The Hamilton Scotts, Singapore Takeda Art Co., Tokyo Japan nTan Corporate Advisory Private Limited, Singapore Targes Capital SGR S.p.A., Italy Singapore Art Museum (SAM), Singapore Mandarin Oriental Jakarta Hotel, Indonesia Singapore Art Museum (SAM) Art Bank Collection, Singapore Bain SE Asia, Singapore Phillip Morris Singapore Private Limited, Singapore United Overseas Bank (UOB) Group, Singapore Asia Campus, INSEAD Business School, Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM), Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore Grand Hyatt Hotel, Shenzhen, China Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Singapore European Financial Group (EFG), Singapore COMMISSIONS 2011 Private commission, Singapore 2009 Grand Hyatt Hotel, Shenzhen, China 2008 Private commission, Singapore 2007 Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Singapore 2006 Private commission, Singapore 2003 European Financial Group (EFG), Singapore SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY Bridget Tracy Tan, “Women Artist in Singapore” (Singapore: National Heritage Board, 2011): 78, 96-97. “Epic moments: the Sovereign Asian Art Prize 5 years and beyond” (Singapore: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, 2008): 102-103,183. “Message from the Curator,” in Philip Morris Singapore Art Awards (Singapore: Philip Morris Singapore, 2005) “Judge’s Comments,” in Philip Morris Singapore-Asean Art Awards (Singapore: Philip Morris, 2003) Eugene Tan, “Meditations on Perception: The Grid in Om Mee Ai’s Paintings,” in Om Mee Ai (Singapore: Alliance Francaise, 2004): 3–4. John Harvest, “ARTSingapore 2004” (21 May 2004) “Ancient roots, Modern bridges: ASEAN Art Awards 1994-2004” (Thailand: Philip Morris, 2004) “THE LASALLE SCHOOL: 20 Years of Fine Arts from LASALLE College of the Arts” (Singapore: LASALLE College of the Arts, 2004) 20

The Business Times, “In search of the next hot thing” (Singapore: 29 Aug 2008) “Doctor’s orders” (Singapore: 14 Sep 2012) The Straits Times, “Night of Raj royalty” (Singapore: 19 May 2008) “Culture Watch: Five shows to catch this week...” (Singapore: 2 Dec 2004) “Bangkok Art-venture” (Singapore: 03 Aug 2004) “Art of peeking pays off” (Singapore: 11 Dec 2003) “No shocks, just lots of fun” (Singapore: 09 Dec 2002) The Pocket Arts Guide, “An Interview: Om Mee Ai” (Singapore: Nov 2010): 54-57.

PARALLEL UNIVERSES by OM MEE AI First published in 2012 by Art Projects Gallery This book is published for the occasion of the exhibition ‘PARALLEL UNIVERSES by OM MEE AI’ at Art Projects Gallery Hong Kong from 10 Nov – 15 Dec 2012. Curators: Goh Ray Vees, Anng Tan Design: Art Projects Gallery © 2012 Art Projects Gallery and Om Mee Ai All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Printed in Hong Kong by The Green Pagoda Press Ltd ISBN: 978-988-16440-3-9

Printed on recycled paper

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