The CBD Just Got Art-ified
Humungous artworks spring up around CapitaSpring site, offering a visual treat for weary office-worker eyes
When is a hoarding not just a hoarding?
When it’s actually unique and super humungous artworks by the celebrated Danielle Tay, a contemporary visual artist, and Ripple Root, the artistic dynamic duo of Estella Ng and Liquan Liew.
Rising up around Market Street, the artworks breathe life into Singapore's Central Business District, expressing a one-of-a-kind buzz of energy surrounding the upcoming CapitaSpring – a new 280-metre integrated development that will offer work, live, and play spaces in a vertically connected environment, together with social and activity spaces spread out over four storeys of lush greenery and trees.
Think modern, high-tech hanging gardens of Babylon where you’d love to hang out, and how just staring at all that greenness will improve your eyesight!
These artists don’t just Art well, they’re really interesting to chat with as well, as INSIDE found out when we waylaid them in between paintings.
ONE-ON-ONE WITH DANIELLE TAY
Danielle Tay traverses the boundaries of painting and craft, abstract and figurative, making paintings that have evolved into large-scale installations. Her spontaneous approach makes each work grow wildly across walls, resulting in whimsical creations which exude vibrancy and energy.
On what inspires her:
“Nature is a big part of my work. I feel that all humans consciously or subconsciously long for nature. And I love the dynamism of nature. Take the sea, it is supposed to be calm, but it can also transform into something else, something powerful. Nature is always evolving, always unpredictable, and I like the uncertainty of it.”
On the inspiration for the artwork:
“I drew inspiration from the name of CapitaSpring. The word spring brings forth water, the vital element that makes up the majority of the world we live in. Without the spring and water, there is no life. Life rises from this spring of water, just as the city rises at CapitaSpring.”
On what she thinks of the upcoming CapitaSpring:
“In the CBD, I don’t think there’s another building like it. There’s no other place that does what it does. It brings the best of everything into a dynamic, flexible mix that redefines the future of work – not just people sitting at desks in the office, but feeling free to meet and collaborate with other like-minded people.”
On working with CapitaLand:
“We worked closely together, using each other as a sounding board for our ideas on the artwork, We were asking, why not this, or why not that, and this process really helped the artwork to go beyond, and develop in the best possible way. It integrates many perspectives, so even though I am the one creating the eventual artwork, it’s not just my own way of seeing things, but about collaborating to achieve the same artistic vision.”
ONE-ON-TWO WITH RIPPLE ROOT
Ripple Root is the artist moniker of Liquan Liew and Estella Ng. They make collaborative, carefree works reflecting themes of nature and wildlife. Their work is distinct, featuring dense, interwoven patterns, and elements bridging the world of old and new.
On what drives them to create art:
“We’re always about accessibility. We believe that someone who isn’t arts trained can also feel a deep connection to an artwork. There are many forms of connection, and it doesn’t have to be one based on technical knowledge of art. Sometimes, art is just about feeling with your heart, rather than thinking with your head.”
On how they work together:
“We never clash. From day one, we spoke the same language. We’re so different in so many ways, yet we work together so well. We can’t really explain it fully, it’s like always seeing eye to eye, and always being on the same page on things. We guess we have a certain lack of ego, and that allows us to relinquish this urge to control our art. This way of working together requires a lot of faith and trust. We’re actually both painting over the same parts, and the artwork changes in surreal ways through that process. We don’t discuss first, but keep the art-making fluid and dynamic.”
More on their painting style:
“We’re all about capturing the moment, and we’re thinking of ideas all the time. We would work on the painting at the same time, and just come together. This way the art retains its purity, and results in the rippling strokes that are what we’re known for. There’s a lot of movement, because it’s not planned. The moment you overthink it, the energy is lost. But of course, in the seeming chaos, there’s meaning in everything.”
On working with CapitaLand:
“The process was extremely smooth and very collaborative. CapitaLand was very open to all ideas, and they really trusted the work, and we were very much engaged in a way that helped the artwork develop organically to its final creation.”
The artworks are on show now! Head down to Market Street to check them out!
Look artistic, cool, and connected at the same time! Snap ‘em and tag us! We’d love to know you dig them!
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CapitaSpring - Where The City (And The Forest) Rises
The place to be Where The City (And The Forest) Rises
Standing at 280 metres, CapitaSpring will be one of the tallest skyscrapers to grace the Singapore skyline.
CapitaSpring promises to be where the city rises, but take a look at it, and you might also think that it’s where the forest rises, providing much-needed greenery into, and contrasting against Singapore’s grey CBD concrete-scape.
Designed by the notable Bjarke Ingels Group, in collaboration with Carlo Ratti Associati, CapitaSpring creates the striking visual effect of tropical gardens bursting into the sky from within the building.
CapitaSpring opens first half of 2021.