UNIQUE EXHIBITION LOCATION

One of the extensive key developments of contemporary art is the merging of art with the environment such as public art and installation art. The environment, which encompasses a wide variety of spaces and places, both private and public, has become an important element of consideration during the decision making process in creating an artwork.

Careful selection of a specific space for each artwork is needed because the location of choice is crucial in defining the context/meaning that are being projected by a particular artwork. For this exhibition, where the given location is unique due to its nature of being a public area in a private setting, there are many ways in presenting an artwork in the school compound to elicit interaction from the crowd — it can be displayed on the wall, floor, corridor, ceiling, or installed in an open space, etc; it can also be projected (video clips, images), played (sound installation) or performed to a live audience. 

In this exhibition, artists are strongly encouraged to exhibit their art works in both interior and exterior space of the school compound. Saying so, primary and secondary locations have been identified for potential art spaces as below :

PRIMARY : 

| Canteen | 


| Atrium | 


| Corridors | 
 

| Walls Next to Stairs |
 

| Museum |


| School Entrance |


| Assembly Hall |



| Elevated Arena Seating of Indoor Basketball Court in Auditorium | 


SECONDARY : 

| Toilets |


| Roof Top Glass | 



| Locker Room |


| Outdoor Basketball Court |


| Indoor Basketball Court | 


| Gym | 


| Library | 


| Theatre |



| All Classrooms |

STELLA MARIS LOCATION VIDEOS

These are the various exhibition sites at Stella Maris:

| Assembly Hall |



| Assembly Hall - Mini Space |



| Indoor Basketball Court |



| Outdoor Basketball Court |


| Locker Room |



| Locker Room - Mechanics |



| Toilets |



| Atrium |

LIST OF INVITED ARTISTS

Artists:
Ahmad Fuad Osman
Low Yi Chin
Chang Yoong Chia + Teoh Ming Wah
Vincent Leong
Wong Hoy Cheong
Chuah Chong Yong
Kok Siew Wai
Fahmi Fadzil
Dean Linguey
Lim Kok Yong
Amanda Heng
Ooi Kooi Hin
Shia Yih Yiing
Tengku Sabri + Mastura
Au Sow Yee
Erica Eaton
Patricia Leong
Reuben Teo

SIGNIFICANCE OF CAIS

The current culture of our education system do not strongly support an enriching exposure towards the understanding of arts in our youths today. Without a strong support and concrete system of cultivation and development of interest towards the importance or influence of arts in a society, our youths are not equipped with the ability to appreciate and explore the full potential of art at their level. Thus by bringing the artworks to the students, CAIS serves as a bridge to narrow the gap of inexposure towards the function and appreciation of art.

As a non-profit art organization, we strongly believe that its our responsibility to take action and stop playing ‘pass-the-buck’ by initiating a project like this as an outreach program for the benefits of our youths.

The significance of CAIS is valued in the method in which the next generation is reached, informed and educated about the importance of contemporary art. The project sets an atmosphere and experience unlike that of a traditional gallery, but rather, a location where students get to ‘coexist ‘ with the artworks daily, allowing them to simply engage with the artworks on a regular basis in a familiar environment. In addition to that, the organizer recognizes the importance of creating a participatory experience between students and artists. This tangible and first hand experience is made possible through a series of activities that will be held to provide the audience with further insights into the identity of contemporary art.

1) Art Tour
There will be guided art tour during the exhibition. The guide will analyze the concept of creation, the usage of language and medium in each artwork so that the audience/students can understand the basic principle of contemporary art.

2) Art Talk
i) Artist presentation
Artists are invited to do a presentation of their works during the exhibition. They will share their inspirations, personal thoughts and process of different stages in their art creation. Such interaction will enhance audience’s appreciation of the creative process and their understanding of the constant challenges that are being faced by art practitioners.
ii) Art Seminar
The manifestation of everyday life has become a regular subject matter for contemporary art practitioners. Our appreciation of art is closely related and complemented by its changes. The purpose of this activity is to broaden audience’s perception of contemporary art through the exchange and discussion of ideas.

3) Art Workshop
Artists are encouraged to conduct workshops for the students and produce artwork for the exhibition, which could be a solo or collaborative effort depending on the nature of the workshop. Such experiential learning process will enhance intellectual and creative interaction between artists and students.

EXHIBITION LOCATION - STELLA MARIS

About Stella Maris
Established in 1937, Stella Maris strives for academic excellence as well as excellence in character development. The school endeavours to develop and foster in today’s children those mental and physical qualities that will make them high achievers.

Stella Maris believes the importance of sending a child to a proper school which can offer a good environment for positive interaction with others and the opportunity to develop personal initiative and enterprise. The aim of the school is to fulfill all these positive needs.Stella Maris has the vision of becoming the preferred choice and centre of excellence in primary and secondary education for the development of the whole person. The mission for the school is to produce loyal, thinking, caring, moral citizens who serve our society in truth and justice through quality-driven, knowledge-based and value-enriched education.

http://stellamaris.edu.my/

OBJECTIVES OF CAIS

1) To provide an educational platform for contemporary art
Contemporary Art is one of pluralism and eclecticism. It is no longer formally categorised into distinctive forms of art and art movements such as painting, printmaking, impressionism, cubism etc. It has become more ambiguous and cross-disciplinary, thus a new way of learning about it in an alternative environment needs to be established in order to understand this unique approach to art. As an educational platform, a school like Stella Maris is different from the conventional commercial art spaces. The school carries the significant role of inculcating values and instilling knowledge to the next generation, making it the ideal choice for learning and experiencing contemporary art in a fresh context.

2) To cultivate an appreciation for contemporary art through the understanding of its role in society
Art is a vehicle for human expression of emotions and ideas; it stimulates human senses as well as the mind. It serves as a means for exploring truth in matters of life that entails questioning and reflection. The exhibited artworks offer the audience multiple ideas made manifest through material means. By exposing the audience to various approaches of art creation in this exhibition, it will inspire them to reflect upon their life experiences and environments, thus causing them to develop an integral understanding of their existence and learn to appreciate the value of contemporary art.

3) Creating an audience participatory exhibition space to encourage exchange and interaction between audience and artists
The concept of art creation is not considered complete without the engagement of an audience. An artist creates an experience, an environment or a subject matter that can be shared with others through the use of multiple media, techniques and an array of imagination. The Interactive and Inter-subjective characteristics in contemporary art today are what constitutes to it being in a constant state of flux. Contemporary art has developed into an art form that embraces active participation of the audience in the process rather than it simply inducing a static form of interaction. At the same time, the collective or collaborative method of producing artwork, which involves a parallel and cross directional creative process, encourages exchange and interaction between audience and artists. This practice has spurred the ever-expanding potential of art, thus enhancing its richness and complexity.

CAIS - CONTEMPORARY ART IN SCHOOL PROJECT

Organized by :
Rumah Air Panas (RAP)

Exhibition Duration :
25 – 8 – 2008 to 6 – 9 – 2008

Public Viewing :
30 – 8 – 2008 (Saturday)
31 – 8 – 2008 (Sunday)
1 – 9 – 2008 (Monday)
6 – 9 – 2008 (Saturday)

Sponsors :
We're in the process of obtaining grants

Location :
Sekolah Menengah Stella Maris (Persendirian),
Jalan Robertson, Off Jalan Pudu, 50150 Kuala Lumpur

Audience :
Students/ Teachers/ Staffs/ Parents/ Public of Stella Maris
Public & Invited School Students and Teachers

This exhibition intends to create an opportunity for students to be exposed to contemporary art by allowing them to experience closer interaction with artists and built a holistic understanding of their creative imagination in the process of art making.

Ever since the popularity of Modern Art, art has evolved into to two major trends: the expanding of aesthetic context (e.g. absurd, fashionable, favorable and etc.), and the development of art forms (e.g. photography, film making, internet and etc.)
specifically towards the direction of combining art with different disciplines such as psychology, mass communication, sociology and so on, resulting in a diverse language of art yet vibrant in the connotation for the art creations.Hence, the organizer will invite artist to participate in this exhibition and organize several related activities such as art tour, artist presentation and art talk during the event. Hopefully by creating an environment that reflects the contemporary art scene, the audience will embark on an insightful journey of social and cultural discovery.