I was looking forward to the exhibition of Ghada Amer only to find out that the government is likely to ban this show. How do you live when you don't even have freedom of access to art, which indisputably is the freedom of expression?
And ask I type furtively on my keyboard, I am deliberating over every word because a wrong word could have me end up in jail for anti-government sentiments or the likes.
But as artists-in-residence at Singapore's leading print institute, Amer and Farkhondeh wonder whether their works -- juxtaposing oral sex and floral patterns, or a quote from the Koran framed by images of Wonder Woman -- will ever be seen here because of government restrictions.
Singapore bans pornography and has an ambivalent attitude to nudity. The government wants to encourage the arts so that Singapore can compete with cultural centers such as London and New York, but only last month stopped a commercial gallery from showing a painting of a female nude in a public space.
"When they invited me, they knew my work. In Egypt, they can't show it. I have no idea if it will be shown in Singapore," said Amer.
Within days of arriving in Singapore with her erotic images of women, she says she felt a frisson and wondered "do they want me to do something else?"
"All my work is about love, sexuality, the empowerment of women, it shows children with porn or erotic messages, because even when you are young, you are taught the same message, that one day the prince will come for you," said Amer.
"The power of woman, I am fascinated by this power. Is it power or not power, what are the limits?"
Excessive Nudity?
Singapore has spent handsomely on arts venues such as theatres, concert halls -- as well as the Singapore Tyler Print Institute where Amer and Farkhondeh are currently working.
But its art scene still veers toward the safe, rather than the controversial, and artists avoid subjects deemed sensitive in the city-state, including politics, religion, race and sex.
Unsurprisingly, there is little public debate on modern art.
The Ministry of Information and the Arts (MICA), which is responsible for encouraging Singapore's development as a "Renaissance City", sent a clear message that it was unacceptable to show a painting of a nude in a public space last month.
When MICA took over new offices a few years ago, it encouraged commercial galleries to open in the same building.
One gallery wanted to display a large painting of a female nude by Chinese artist Chen Xi in the atrium, but was told this was not allowed because children and young people might see it.
It has been truly difficult to come home after living in Italia where I experienced the real meaning of the word 'freedom' and enjoyed the freedom of access to all information, porn, left/right wing newspapers, controversial magazines. And of course chewing gum which is infamously banned in my country- for a litterfree society.
Bravo. Now, when can I start living instead of existing?
What are your views on freedom of access to information T? Since you work in the media too? Imagine shows you host being censored or banned altogether in a country. Would you be indignant to live in a litter-free, safe, 'utopia' society? Or would you rather wake up, smell the roses, and risk meeting the big bad wolf on the way?
I'd choose the latter anytime. Afterall, life is risky business.
