Safe House

A safe house is a place a person can find solace and security, a sanctuary, a place where anyone can run to when the real world seems that little bit extra bleak and inhospitable. Chang Yoong Chia’s Safe House, the third instalment of his Flora & Fauna Series is anything but comfortable.

His works of art pushes the boundaries of societal norms and challenges true art. He discovers art in the form of painting over discarded objects and remaking them into provocatively paradoxical pieces. His use of unconventional materials and deep haunting colours make for a disturbingly beautiful showcase. Safe House is one part of the Bombay Sapphire Art Projects 2008 in collaboration with Valentine Willie Fine Art, a program that will be running until December.

The end result is a thought provoking, museum-like art exhibition. Chang Yoong Chia has always been a perverse man of innovation and individualism. He leaves behind a long trail of merits and accreditation to his name. At the budding age of 33, he has already contributed to a very fair share of exhibitions both locally and internationally such as Art Multiple 2008 (Ke Center for Contemporary Arts, Shanghai), Parallel Realities (3rd Fukuoka Asian Art Triennale), and most recently, the JENESYS Program 2008 (Sapporo Artist in Residence, Tokyo). Chang has embarked on various partnerships with Teoh Ming Wah, a seasoned writer and the co-founder of ZeroSpace, since May of 2007 thus this collaborative effort spawned Safe House. This is truly an art exhibition to raise argument and discourse, an insightful peek into the heart of an artist.

Text Lim Ai Leen