The Chrysler Museum of Art Brings Singapore to Norfolk with a Film by Sarah Choo Jing

Sarah Choo Jing (Singaporean, b. 1990), Video still from Art of the Rehearsal, 2017, Three-channel video; duration: 00:02:50,
Courtesy of the artist

NORFOLK, Va. (July 15, 2020) – The Chrysler Museum of Art will transport visitors to Singapore with Art of the Rehearsal, on view Sep. 17, 2020–Jan. 31, 2021. The three-channel video work of Singaporean artist Sarah Choo Jing explores the myriad ethnic communities that make up the city-state of Singapore through traditional forms of dance. The film places viewers in a row of low-lying homes and shops on an empty street. As the music plays, dancers perform in front of doorways, behind doorways in shadow, on the street and on rooftops. Each individual is from a different ethnic group: Malay, Chinese and Indian.

“I first viewed Sarah’s work in 2018 when I had the privilege to curate InLight Richmond, an outdoor exhibition organized by 1708 Gallery and held on the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts campus. Her film was stimulating and masterful and encouraged me to think about what community is and what it means in a place I’ve never visited. I knew immediately that I wanted to present her work at the Chrysler,” said Kimberli Gant, Ph.D., the Chrysler’s McKinnon Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art.

The title of the work references the rigorous physical and mental labor performers must endure to produce a final work. Jing says she seeks to present “the consistent determination of the performers. The emphasis here is on the process rather than on the final outcome.” By placing the performers in a public area such as a street, Jing collapses the defined space of theatre into the social space of the world. It is unclear if the artists are performing or rehearsing as many would find it difficult to discern the difference between the two.

Jing’s practice is based in film, photography and installation. Her works invite spectators to view private moments between individuals or couples, creating a sense that one is an unseen observer. Much of her work takes place in Singapore, allowing audiences to catch a nuanced glimpse of the incredible city and its citizens. Her settings are often hotels or places of transit such as trains, where individuals may not realize they are being observed. Yet, through them, viewers can relate to Jing’s characters, their feelings of isolation and loneliness and their desire to make meaningful connections.

Programming

Live with… Sarah Choo Jing
Saturday, Oct. 3
8 p.m. │ Free for Museum Members, $15 for non-members

Sarah Choo Jing will join us from her studio in Singapore to discuss Art of the Rehearsal, her three-channel video on view at the Chrysler. The work explores the diverse ethnic communities of Singapore through various forms of dance. The artist will chat with Kimberli Gant, Ph.D., the McKinnon Curator of Modern & Contemporary Art. Meet us on Zoom for this lively conversation. Register at chrysler.org.

ABOUT THE CHRYSLER MUSEUM OF ART

The Chrysler Museum of Art is one of America’s most distinguished mid-sized art museums, with a nationally recognized collection of more than 30,000 objects, including one of the great glass collections in America. The core of the Chrysler’s collection comes from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., an avid art collector who donated thousands of objects from his private collection to the Museum. The Museum has growing collections in many areas and mounts an ambitious schedule of visiting exhibitions and educational programs each season. The Chrysler has also been recognized nationally for its unique commitment to hospitality with its innovative gallery host program.

The Perry Glass Studio is a state-of-the-art facility on the Museum’s campus. The studio offers programming for aspiring and master artists alike in a variety of processes including glassblowing, fusing, flameworking, coldworking and neon.

In addition, the Chrysler Museum of Art administers the Moses Myers House, a historic house in downtown Norfolk, as well as the Jean Outland Chrysler Library. For more information on the Chrysler Museum of Art, visit chrysler.org.

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