Singaporean Art & Design Collective PHUNK Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Controlled Chaos at National Design Centre
PUBLISHED March 2nd, 2020 05:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:57 pm
Today, Singapore’s creative landscape is alive and thriving with more locals embracing the sacrifices of an artist’s life. This was far from reality back in 1994 when Singapore was seen as a cultural desert – yet, it was at this time that internationally acclaimed art and design collective PHUNK got their start. To commemorate their silvery anniversary, the studio is participating in the ongoing SG Designer Milestone Series line-up at the National Design Centre with their exhibition Control Chaos: 25 Years of PHUNK.
Founded in 1994 by Alvin Tan, Melvin Chee, Jackson Tan and William Chan whilst they were studying at Lasalle College of the Arts, PHUNK started off as an unsuccessful rock band that soon evolved into a contemporary art collective that retained its rock and roll ethos. Through their works, PHUNK has created a visual universe that draws and reinterprets influences from traditional Chinese mythology, Hong Kong wuxia pulp fiction, Japanese manga and Western pop culture.
Labelled the “Champion of Singapore’s Graphic Scene” (Creative Review, UK) and winner of the President’s Designer of the Year award 2007, PHUNK has established a solid name for themselves in the design industry by working with international brands like Nike, MTV, Levi’s, and Rolling Stone. Visitors to the exhibition will be immersed in their unique visual aesthetic through a retrospective of their most notable works such as Love Bomb and Electricity that blur the lines between the creative realms of fine art and design.
Revolving around the central theme of Control Chaos (also the title of one of their formative pieces that sparked their distinct style), experience zones of artwork that illuminate the dual concepts of control and chaos alongside new and archival work documenting the collective’s history and philosophies, through mediums like print, digital and sculpture.
Apart from the showcase, art enthusiasts can drop in for a talk show, Creative Conversations with PHUNK, where you will see the masterminds in conversation with writer and design researcher Justin Zhang about their bold endeavours and their upcoming project — a book chronicling PHUNK’s journey through the years.
Control Chaos: 25 Years of PHUNK exhibition is happening from now till 20 March, 9am — 9pm daily at the National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road, Singapore 188969. Admission is free.
COVID-19 Situation Update: Control Chaos: 25 Years of PHUNK exhibition will proceed as planned. The necessary precautionary measures, in line with health advisories issued by the Ministry of Health Singapore, will be activated on-site and around the venue to ensure that any health and safety risks are mitigated. Creative Conversations with PHUNK will be rescheduled to a later date.
