Artist Suzann Victor pushes the limits of contemporary art

Back in 1988, Suzann Victor and her Lasalle College of the Arts classmates redefined the art scene in Singapore by occupying a whole section of Orchard Road with their paintings and abstract prints. Suzann set up a makeshift exhibition on the public sidewalk outside Orchard Point shopping centre, catching the attention of many and setting a promising path for her to become the contemporary visual artist she is today.

Currently based in Sydney, Suzann remains true to her roots as a Southeast Asian artist. She recently travelled back to her homeland to showcase her work during the Singapore Art Week at the renowned Singapore Tyler Print Institute (STPI) gallery. In conjunction with S.E.A. Focus – an exhibition showcasing the works of Southeast Asian contemporary artists – she presented her latest collection titled Constellations, which comprised over 20 new artworks. The presentation allowed visitors to explore the art of printmaking through light and shadow. Viewers were also encouraged to create their secondary light prints on the walls of STPI.

For more than three decades, Suzann’s work has been seen in major galleries in Singapore and Australia. Below, she shares what art enthusiasts can expect from her latest work as well as what’s in the pipeline for her in this exclusive interview with FirstClasse Malaysia.

How would you describe the essence of your art?

My practice is a process of reorganising of perception to make audiences see (and feel) in new ways by extracting the extraordinary from the ordinary.

What inspired your latest work, ‘Constellations’?

‘Constellations’ is based on the counter-intuitive idea of using absence and invisibility to create a proliferating visible presence. The five new series of works in this show “abandons” the conventional tools of printmaking to do so, and also invites the viewer to co-author the work in real life.

What is your formula when creating a series of art?

There is no ‘formula’ in creating any artwork as such. Life is dynamic in nature. It is also a continuum, and so is art. For a social practice such as mine, it is really a concurrent process of caring for society, responding and navigating the world with integrity, as much as valuing discovery and innovation.

Where do you get your inspiration from usually?

Inspiration abounds everywhere you look, but it is especially where it is not obvious, or even hiding in plain sight.

Any advice for the younger generation who would like to pursue art in Southeast Asia?

Well, I always believe that one’s place in the world at any point in time offers the very resources, materials and motivation for responding and navigating art and life. I would not be so presumptuous as to offer advice, but just my own cue, which is to never underestimate one’s own experience as the authenticity of who you are.