jing

Yesterday I attended a small opening titled Asian Delights!! by a Singaporean photographer who only goes by the name Jing, in the lobby at DraftFCB (where I consult for the Hewlett-Packard account).

The opening showcased two recent photo series !!!FOOD PORN & SINGAPORE IDOLS!!!. With gratuitous use of exclamation points. The first, Food Porn, is a series of close-up shots of food, especially wet food, meats and vegetables in heavy sauces, reproduced as large format prints. While predominantly asian cuisine, the obligatory McDonald’s hamburger is present as well. The second series, Singapore Idols, showcased a mix of “stars” from the everyday culture that is contemporary Singapore- cyclist teams, construction workers, armed forces, fashion models and dance troupes, a broad swath of present day Singaporeans are represented, mostly in the form of large staged group portraits.

In spite of the stale crackers, cheap wine, 70s disco music and florescent lighting, the show still carried it’s own. The work is fresh and entertaining.

Though photographed through a lens that is more kitsch than propaganda, the photographs, especially from the second series, aspire to the lofty role of Singaporean cultural ministery, documenting a freeze frame of actors in the drama that is modern Singapore. Indeed, Jing’s photography was recently featured in a limited edition book printed for a 2006 IMF meeting in Singapore.

Jing’s work can also be viewed as part of a group show at The Exchange (640 West 28th St., 9th floor) titled Tiger Translate. A show of “emerging Asian artist and designers.” The opening will be this Saturday, March 31st. You can view the invite here.