Kan (2009) points out that school arts and fine arts have their own institutional style. When using examples for the art curriculum of Singapore it becomes apparent school art is influenced by art and art education practices around the world. Singapore’s population is mostly made up of Chinese and Malay yet they are making art of the Japanese, Northern Europe, and the United States. They are making little work that ties into their own regional culture wile contributing to a more widespread global culture.
What is common in Singapore is common in my own art and art ed practice. For example: I recall as a high school and undergrad art student being beat over the head with painting techniques deeply rooted in 19th century Europe. I live in Wyoming but I was painting like the French. It wasn’t until I became an art teacher that I became more engaged in American art like Abstract expressionism and American regionalist. These too, also have roots in European culture. Some of the artists from these movements were immigrants from Europe bringing the same ideas and techniques to the American Art scene.
It didn’t stop there however, I remember as a middle school student being very engaged in Japanese Anime. I loved the storytelling and style especially when it came to how the characters expressed emotion. Later, in high school I remember giving a presentation about the history on this art style and vaguely recall saying something about how the Japanese actually got their idea for this canon from Walt Disney movies. So the Japanese, inspired by Disney, created this genera of animation that American children later engaged in and started to replicate. Today, American animators and cartoonist render characters in similar ways to this cannon bringing the idea full circle.
Thanks to immigration, the Internet, and the widespread use of media across the globe art and culture is intertwined. What is popular in one country can be inspired by media in a different region on the other side of the globe creating an a never-ending cycle of inspiration and replication.
What is common in Singapore is common in my own art and art ed practice. For example: I recall as a high school and undergrad art student being beat over the head with painting techniques deeply rooted in 19th century Europe. I live in Wyoming but I was painting like the French. It wasn’t until I became an art teacher that I became more engaged in American art like Abstract expressionism and American regionalist. These too, also have roots in European culture. Some of the artists from these movements were immigrants from Europe bringing the same ideas and techniques to the American Art scene.
It didn’t stop there however, I remember as a middle school student being very engaged in Japanese Anime. I loved the storytelling and style especially when it came to how the characters expressed emotion. Later, in high school I remember giving a presentation about the history on this art style and vaguely recall saying something about how the Japanese actually got their idea for this canon from Walt Disney movies. So the Japanese, inspired by Disney, created this genera of animation that American children later engaged in and started to replicate. Today, American animators and cartoonist render characters in similar ways to this cannon bringing the idea full circle.
Thanks to immigration, the Internet, and the widespread use of media across the globe art and culture is intertwined. What is popular in one country can be inspired by media in a different region on the other side of the globe creating an a never-ending cycle of inspiration and replication.