The Wounded Land Rumbles the Same Ballad
Alya Rahmat, Charlene Ramos, Kenenza Michiko, Nurul Hakimah, Renee Yeo, Sarita Abeyesundere, and Wan Oi Yin
Group Exhibition
6 - 14 Jul 2024, 11am to 7pm
History is always written by the victors, as a result, certain narratives are glorified over others, and the other narratives are then pushed to the margins of obscurity. Whose stories do we listen to? And whose stories do we forget? the wounded land rumbles the same ballad attempts to carve out a space for alternative voices to be heard and validated, looking at storytelling as a means of reclaiming agency.
the wounded land rumbles the same ballad looks at storytelling as a method of archiving alternative histories and speculating narratives. From folklore to grandfather stories to post-war memory, this exhibition encapsulates stories that often go unheard, voices that are left on the periphery. This group of 2024 fresh graduates from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts may explore themes of identity, belonging, social justice, and folklore. They draw from their own lived experiences, cultural backgrounds, and intersecting identities to create works that are authentic and reflective of their truths. This process of recalibration and reimagination involves not only challenging external expectations and norms but also interrogating internalised biases and assumptions of what constitutes legitimate art and whose voices are considered worthy of attention.
About the Artist(s)
Alya Rahmat
Alya Rahmat is currently majoring in BA(Hons) Fine Arts at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The nature of her works explores the subject matter of female identity and the concerns within the Malay-Muslim community be it culturally or the supernatural, through speculating narratives and realities. Alya has had the opportunity to present her works in a student collaboration exhibition titled Imagining New Futures at Gillman Barracks in 2021. In the same year, she also interned as a Visual Arts intern at the National Arts Council. She was awarded a NAFA achievement on the Dean’s List Award twice in AY20/21. Alya also was a curator of a student-led exhibition titled Terra Incognita: The Alt Show in 2022. She was also a recipient of the Tan Chin Tuan Scholarship for Creative Education for the academic year 22/23 and also a recipient of The Woon Brothers’ Foundation Awards, as well as a recipient of Anugerah Mendaki in 2022. Alya’s work has since been featured in Straits Times Life and her collaborative film titled “Bawang Merah & Bawang Merah” was awarded the quarter-finalist award at the Student Impact Film Festival, United States of America. She was also a curator and exhibitor in the Downsizing: The Universe on a String.
Charlene Ramos
Charlene Andrea Ramos is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Singapore. She is currently pursuing her BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts conferred by University of the Arts London. Most of Charlene's works are subconsciously drawn to the politics of identity and the unconscious hierarchies they are subjected to. Having immigrated multiple times at a young age, she draws from her lived experience as a Third Culture Kid, exploring notions of cultural homelessness and using art to bridge the gaps in the understanding to resist the gradual loss of her cultural roots. Her works have been exhibited in multiple group exhibitions which include, ‘Downsizing: The Universe on a String’ (2024) at the Lim Hak Tai Gallery, ‘Women Hold Hold Up Half The Sky’ (2022) with the Crabs in Clams collective as part of ‘An Allegory of Fourths’ (2022) exhibition at NAFA Tower Block & Singapore Council of Women’s Organization (SCWO), ‘NAFA x UAL Student Exhibition’ at Chelsea College of Arts, London, as well as ‘Mercury in Summer’ (2022) at Senso Art Gallery, Malaysia.
Kenenza Michiko
Kenenza Michiko is a recent BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore – University of the Arts London programme. Her artworks explore the intersections of counter-mapping, cartographic practices, landscape, and socio-political themes of Southeast Asia. Kenenza has exhibited in group shows at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Gallery, The Lim Hak Tai Gallery, Selegie Arts Center, and venues such Gillman Barracks in Singapore and The Morgue in London. She was also selected as a quarter-finalist for the Student World Impact Film Festival 2023 in the USA. She completed a curatorial and research internship with the National Gallery Singapore and has curated exhibitions such as LASKAR Pelangi 2020, BORDERLESS with the Norwegian Cultural Center and Terra Incognita: The Alt Show 2022 at Artspace @ Helutrans. Kenenza has received several scholarships and awards, including The Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal 2022 and the Lim Ai Fang Art Prize 2022 and Woon Tai Jee Art Prize 2024 by the Woon Brothers Foundation. Currently, she works as an assistant exhibition manager in an art gallery at Jakarta.
Renee Yeo
Renee Yeo is a Multi-Disciplinary Artist born and based in Singapore. Currently, as a final year student, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Fine Art with University of Arts London (UAL). She previously graduated from Ngee Ann Polytechnic with a Diploma in Chinese Media & Communication. In her artistic practice, she incorporates personal memories and identity as cultural elements in her works, which represent an ongoing exploration of how identities shifts through hybridity of cultures. Renee's body of work encompasses art installations, photography and films, with her most notable piece being "Dragonboat Evolution" (2019), which was her final year project at polytechnic. It was a six-month-long documentary series project that showcased a comprehensive understanding of the Chinese culture surrounding Dragon boating. The project received support from the National Youth Council and the Singapore Dragon Boat Association. Additionally, Renee's recent work have been exhibited in “Downsizing: the Universe on a String” at Lim Hak Tai Gallery as well as “FOAD co:Lab Exhibition at Ngee Ann Kong Si Gallery”. Her works have been showcased in "NAFA X UAL Exhibition" (2023) at University of Arts London (Chelsea College of Arts, United Kingdom) , "An Allegory of Fourths" exhibition (2022) at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore and "Theoria, Poiesis" (2022) at Peace Centre, Singapore. Her artistic exploration often delves into the realms of memories, culture and identity. Renee frequently incorporates everyday objects and readymade materials that she encounters or collects in her daily life, grounding her installations in the familiar. Through her work, she aims to emphasise the fluidity of identities. Family and a sense of belonging serve as recurring themes in her artistic practice.
Sarita Abeyesundere
Sarita Abeyesundere, is a Singapore-based artist, born in Sri Lanka. She is currently completing her BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore, conferred by University of the Arts London (UAL). Sarita is a recipient of the NAFA Talent Development Programme (2023 – 2024). Her work Threads of Life has been exhibited at ‘Theoria, Poiesis, _’ (Peace Centre, 2022) and ‘Flagship Genius’ (Ngee Ann Kongsi Gallery, NAFA, 2023). Her work For the Ash Remembers created during, study abroad programme (UAL) was showcased at the ‘NAFA x UAL’ exhibition (Chelsea College, London, 2023). Her practice delves into various mediums, shaped by her experiences and the social histories of Sri Lanka. As a 'facilitator of history' she revisits and makes space for conversations about collective memory and community.
Wan Oi Yin
Yin is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Singapore with a current focus on photography and moving images. She is currently pursuing her BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts with University of the Arts London and have previously graduated with a Diploma in Fine Arts. She works with various mediums ranging from paints to digital imagery touching on topics of dissonance with faith and in relation with human connections and loss & death. Yin also practices performing arts in music making with melodic percussions and percussion instruments. Yin has had experiences with art education, being a docent, and graphic design. She has been part of Singapore Art Week, photographing events, and was gallery trained under Pinacotheque de Paris (Singapore branch). She has presented her works in multiple exhibitions and was also chosen for N.E.mation, a total defence animation campaign. She was featured in the documentary Story of Our City 3D as being an artist participant for the longest anamorphic pavement art. Yin believes that inspiration can be found wherever she looks. Through this, she hopes to give a voice to the voiceless and inspire others to do the same.