in Singapore
I often tried to run away from my identity and culture, in order to fit into society's standard of what is acceptable – only to realise that I am running away from myself.
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Hafizah Jainal, Illustrator / Visual communicator
I find it unsettling that people like me are either left out or used as tokens in the media. Even in this current climate, we struggle with diversity or racial quota as opposed to fostering inclusivity and representation. As a designer, I had to learn to subconsciously include minorities – based on their ethnicity and sexuality – in the work that I do.
What are your thoughts on minority representation in Singapore’s art scene?
My art often explores themes related to culture, heritage, and traditions mostly taking final form as a visual creation.
In one line, introduce your art to our readers.
Natasha Hassan
Multi-platform designer
Vimal Kumar
Visual artist
Amrita
Chandradas
Documentary photographer
A part of my art is voyeuristic, plays with the concept of time and utilises lighting to its advantage.
Briefly, how would you introduce your photography?
Hafizah Jainal
Illustrator / Visual communicator
Khairullah Rahim
Multimedia artist
Living in Singapore as a minority has been pivotal
in motivating my art practice which presents stories and experiences of marginalised communities whose identities do not subscribe within societal normativity. Incorporating everyday and found objects from spaces in which these specific communities inhabit, my works allude to the
veiled and lived experiences of varied subjects.
How has your experience growing up as a minority in Singapore shaped your art?
Singapore’s melting pot of ethnic cultures and diverse religions has always bubbled with exciting ideas. But when it comes to who gets a chance to showcase these creations, we can all agree that there’s room for improvement. We’re not just talking about rejecting ‘brownface’ – that’s the bare minimum. We need to genuinely celebrate the talented artists from photographers to illustrators whose works are influenced by their experiences growing up as minorities in Singapore. Here are some you can support.
Written by Dewi Nurjuwita
Amrita Chandradas
Hafizah Jainal
Khairullah Rahim
Natasha Hassan
Vimal Kumar
Amrita Chandradas
Hafizah Jainal
Khairullah Rahim
Natasha Hassan
Vimal Kumar
I want the art scene to start including us, no question asked. I want them to broaden their talent hires and not resort to tokenism. I want to see people of different ethnicities and sexualities being given the platform to represent themselves and their work. My new project, Archipelagirl, is an online zine that shines light on underrepresented communities, backgrounds, experiences and issues in Singapore. It also serves as a directory for Brown and Black creatives who are from Singapore or based here. From the directory sign-ups, it is evident that there is a vast group of us! There’s really no excuse to not include us.
How do you think we can improve?
What institutions fail to realise is that diversity hires have the undertone of us being a liability and also makes us question whether we are valued for our merits. This comes off as just another performative act of window-dressing. Institutions also need to understand that being more inclusive means adding value and substance; and varied skills and perspectives.
There have been several occasions where I was contacted by programmes scrambling to include me at the eleventh hour after receiving backlash on social media for the lack of representation. I felt like a footnote they forgot to include. This is an issue that can easily be avoided if your team is made up of an inclusive and representative group of people.
How can the public and institutions
support this?
Being a minority in Singapore has always encouraged me to seek and understand my roots and the cultural traditions practised by the people of my ethnicity both here at home and in India, where my great-grandparents came from. By exploring my identity, I have gained more respect and appreciation for the aesthetics of Indian and Hindu Art. This, in turn, has informed the ever-evolving art style that I adopt for myself.
How has your experience growing up as a minority in Singapore influenced your art?
While I think the diversity in Singapore’s art scene is growing, there is definitely room for improvement. I personally think that art inclined towards culture and heritage should not be limited to cultural spaces but also be welcomed into the realm of contemporary Singaporean art. For example, Chinese motifs need not necessarily be only part of a traditionally Chinese space. It can be part of modern gallery spaces as well. This is especially important for our country, which in its essence is a multi-ethnic society where there is a melting pot of culture and traditions. In other words, it would be better if we do not shy away from strong ethnic aesthetics in art-making, in the local context.
What would you like to see more of in terms of representation in Singapore’s art scene?
The public should actively take part in consuming local art, which might encourage institutions to increase their support. This is exactly why galleries and institutions should make space for art made with the common man in mind as well. For now, actively making space for talented artists of diverse backgrounds would do good for the art scene here in Singapore.
How do you think institutions and the public can support this?
Website
Website
Website
Website
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We need more diversity beyond tokenism. We need to consider a more ‘tossed salad’ approach instead of a melting pot so that we can integrate and yet still retain different cultures while maintaining our separate identities.
Khairullah Rahim, Multimedia artist
Website
Website
My art often stems from my own life experiences – pairing vulnerability with humour. Sometimes, some of the art that I make isn't really funny, but it's still real.
What’s your art about?
Growing up as a minority in Singapore, I often tried to run away from my identity and culture, in order to fit into society's standard of what is acceptable - only to realise that I am running away from myself. Embracing who I am has shaped my confidence as a creative person. I am not afraid to use art to bring my message across.
How do your experiences growing up as a minority in Singapore and your identity as an artist merge?
Being in the creative industry since I left school, I have seen first hand how the scene comes across as a non-inclusive platform, only featuring or rotating the same people for so many years. Steps have to be taken to push for visibility of under-represented creatives because the truth is, we have enough space for diversity to thrive, and we have enough space for everyone.
What would you like to see more of in terms of representation in Singapore’s art scene?
By first acknowledging that the creative industry
is diverse and we are not doing enough in terms
of representation. Taking action by giving opportunities and space to under-represented creatives.
How do you think institutions and the public can support this?
Website
Website
I grew up feeling invisible with the lack of representation of minority communities in Singapore and silenced through the various challenges faced by being of a different race. It can be incredibly frustrating and alienating. Years of these internalised experiences drove me to work on issues that were rarely heard, seen or discussed about in the mainstream; thus giving the voiceless a space to reclaim and be known.
How has your experience growing up as a minority in Singapore influenced your art?
I stress that diversity and inclusion is important, however, please hire us based on our merit and not as a token minority. Our work is not just about issues that affect and impact our everyday as minorities. We are able to offer perspectives those in the majority cannot, just because they reside in the comfort of being a majority. The industry needs our perspective in order to lay claim to ‘multiculturalism’ or wanting to talk about representation, because it is our narrative that allows for plurality, for the problems, and the real work to take place. We are not a singular voice: one of us do not and cannot represent all of us. We are not a singular perspective. So it is possible to have a panel of four that feature all minority voices. You will not be hearing the same narrative, seeing the same expressions of work.
What improvements would you like to see in terms of representation in Singapore’s art scene?
They should ideally do their research. There are plenty of resources for them to derive and learn about minority artists. It is incredibly easy for people to be in their comfort zone and instantly reach out to friends or their own personal network when it comes to featuring artists, thus disregarding those of marginalised identities. The minority community in Singapore houses a wealth of incredible artists, who have gone on to create thought-provoking works. It is integral for those in positions of power to make these changes in taking the time to engage and learn from the minority. Support us by being sensitive to our experiences, encourage more nuanced questions or discussions like this in a public sphere and last but not least, it is important to listen.
How do you think institutions and the public can support this?
Website
Website
We need more diversity beyond tokenism. We need to consider a more ‘tossed salad’ approach instead of a melting pot so that we as a multicultural society, can integrate and yet still retain different cultures while maintaining our separate identities.
What would you like to see in terms of representation in Singapore’s art scene?
Listen, reassess, unlearn, relearn and share. Get educated, don’t wait and expect to be educated
by others.
What’s your advice to institutions and
the public?
Tokenism
The practice of making a symbolic effort to do something – such as hiring a person from under-represented groups – only to prevent criticism and give the appearance of sexual or racial equality within a workplace. Eg. casting an influencer from a minority group to be part of a photoshoot just for the sake of creating publicly viewed diversity.
~Resources to educate yourself~
@beyondhijabsg
@hearmesg
@minorityvoices
@notoksg
@akarprint
@akarprint
@beyondhijabsg
@hearmesg
@minorityvoices
@notoksg
@_archipelagirl
@_archipelagirl