Housed in a contemporary gallery within House, Nataliette’s quirky art exhibition garnered the interest of many young adults on its opening night last Fri.

The exhibition, Food & Obsession: A Visual Study of Food Behaviour, features a series of paintings by the young artist under the Singapore Contemporary Young Artists Project (SCYA). Her works depict human behaviour in gastronomical form. This is her first solo showcase.

We spoke to Nataliette to get to know the artist behind the chef-d'œuvre.

Youth.SG: How has your time with SCYA been?
Nataliette: It has been very supporting. Great! In terms of advice, they (helped me with little things like how to position my artwork. They take the initiative to approach companies like House (Spa Esprit), organisations and corporations to set up and arrange exhibitions. Me, on my own, I would never organise such stuff. They help bring me up to the scene.

Tell us more about your artwork in this exhibition, the driving factor, your inspiration and any problems you encountered.
My artwork(s) are personal life stories, bits and pieces of my life. The piece with butterflies was actually inspired by my sister’s pregnancy. (Writer’s note: this piece incorporates the message of abstinence with negative influences such as cigarettes and wine.)

My Poor Sister, one of my earlier pieces, shows a girl sitting, (with) a hole where her neck is… cockroaches and spiders crawling out and another girl looking at her. Then there’s the piece In Hot Soup. “Hot soup” (is) the phrase (you use) when you get yourself into trouble, made me do this piece because I got into trouble but it’s not very obvious what my trouble was. (Writer’s note: the piece is also an example of the importance of food in our society, considering the array of idioms that incorporate the subject of food.)


I’m a very impatient person. I spend like 10 to 20 hours per piece. I start with an idea, it evolves and I just want to see the results immediately. So if I don’t like it, I abandon it.

How is your art different? What is your style?
I don’t believe anything is truly unique but the feedback I got is that my art is gory. But I disagree because I don’t want to horrify people. It’s just that my aesthetics go in that direction. Like (how in) Bring Me Back to Life (there) is actually a positive message. The girl lost her limbs but she’s sewing them back together. Like mother always says, “Girl when you fall down, pick yourself up,” you know. It’s about picking yourself up. It’s not pleasant but it makes an impact.


What do you think of commercial art? It doesn’t seem to appeal to you…
I did commercial design. Some of my work I really enjoyed but I quit for personal reasons, to take a break. Commercial work can be great because its aesthetics appeal to everyone. I guess there are pluses and minuses.

How is this exhibition different from your previous work as a designer for companies?
Illustrations are my personal work so (I face) no restrictions. I can go any direction I want but for example web design, the first restriction is you need clear navigation. You can be creative but you need to keep the client and industry into consideration. But I’ve seen great websites.

Tell us more about your experience participating in Noise Singapore 2008.
It was good. I think Noise is such a big event featuring many artists. I expected more exposure. I did a mural but I wasn’t too happy that they wanted to paint it over. But the people were supportive and helpful, great to work with. They helped with any questions I had.

So your muse is Oscar Wilde. Why? What form of inspiration do you garner from him or his work?
(picks up the Oscar Wilde book on display) I wouldn’t call him my muse but he’s my number one idol, along with Salvador Dali. I love his book. I’ve never read any book as intriguing as The Picture of Dorian Gray. I get guidelines from it. He had some quotes in the preface. I can relate closely to his statements. I use instances from my life to do my work, whether it’s obvious or not. So it’s like an autobiography.
What are your future plans?
I hope to get out of the starving artist (phase). I’m not looking for fame, just for exposure to have enough jobs. I’m working with a fashion designer.

Finally, what is your opinion of visual art, or art in general, in Singapore?
There IS an arts scene but a very self-sustaining scene because only artists know about it. I feel art is not mainstream or a priority in Singapore. Even though the government gives funds and set up arts schools, it’s just not the same as other countries. We’re not as highly regarded as international artists. By nature of your citizenship your work is devalued, just because you’re not from a country known for art.

You will find Nataliette's illustrations printed on postcards-souvenirs at the exhibition. Besides these miniature versions, you can also purchase the original paintings. Her key works are In Hot Soup and My Poor Sister, but a few other quirky cool illustrations also caught my eye for their depth and humour:

Mm, Ice Cream
Draws reference to advertising culture which seeks to heighten cravings and consumerism.


Inability
Today’s competent women prove to be proportionally incompetent in the kitchen.

Fishing for Ideas in a Tea Cup
Teatime and good books always inspire or precipitate the stirring of the subconscious.


That Hot Chick
The hot girl is prized for her breasts and legs, so is a good piece of chicken.
In her speech to a mix of supportive friends and art fanatics, Nataliette also added, “If you can see what I’m trying to say, I have achieved my goal.”

The gallery, with stimulating French music in the background and wine to sip, created the perfect ambience to appreciate Nataliette’s art pieces. NB

PHOTOS: ALVIN TEO
VIEW MORE PHOTOS HERE

Food & Obsession: A Visual Study of Food Behaviour exhibits at House, 8D Dempsey Road till Oct 9.

nawira[a]youth.sg

THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF Sept 14-20 :: The Striving Issue