PARALLEL UNIVERSES OM MEE AI

PARALLEL UNIVERSES OM MEE AI

ART PROJECTS GALLERY10th Nov - 15th Dec 2012

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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 mono-chromatic 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 circum-stances during its creation.

PARALLEL UNIVERSES OM MEE AI

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Upon closer scrutiny, Om’s works reveal a deeper sensory experience brought about by the interplay of textures, colors, lighting and the art-work’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 Sin-gapore 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 VeesCo-Founder of Art Projects Gallery

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M-LGG #02 (Light Gray Green)150 x 150 cmOil on Canvas2012

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M-LMG (LIGHT MINT GREEN)150 x 150 cmOil on Canvas2012

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M-STF150 x 150 cmOil on Canvas2012

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M-RED150 x 150 cmOil on Canvas2012

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W-WWY122 x 122 cmOil on Canvas

2011

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W-WWG122 x 122 cmOil on Canvas

2011

W-WWP122 x 122 cmOil on Canvas

2011

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M-DKG122 x 122 cmOil on Canvas2011

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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

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                      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

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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

COMMISSIONS2011 Private commission, Singapore2009 Grand Hyatt Hotel, Shenzhen, China2008 Private commission, Singapore2007 Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Singapore2006 Private commission, Singapore2003 European Financial Group (EFG), Singapore

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHYBridget 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)

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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 AIFirst published in 2012by Art Projects Gallery

This book is published for the occasion of the exhibition ‘PARALLEL UNIVERSES by OM MEE AI’ at Art Projects GalleryHong Kong from 10 Nov – 15 Dec 2012.

Curators: Goh Ray Vees, Anng TanDesign: Art Projects Gallery

© 2012 Art Projects Gallery and Om Mee AiAll 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 LtdISBN: 978-988-16440-3-9

Printed on recycled paper

PARALLEL UN

IVERSES by OM

MEE AI

Unit 7, Level 14, Oceanic Industrial Centre2 Lee Lok Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong

T: (852) 3485 5336 E: info@artprojectsasia.comW: www.artprojectsasia.com

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