UPCOMING EVENT

 

Larasati's F1 Exhibition comes to ION Orchard

Feel the Adrenaline Rush at Singapore's First F1 Themed Art Exhibition in the heart of Orchard

Singapore, 20 August 2009 – Singaporeans and tourists can switch gears this GP seasons with a unique, multi-sensional Formula 1 - inspired lifestyle experience outside the race tracks and in the heart of Singapore's famed shopping district.

From 18 to 27 September this year, Asian-based auction house, Larasati will rev up the 'lifestyle' component of the race experience with Singapore's first F1 exhibition, titled "Pintor's F1 at ION Orchard" at the newest mall on Orchard Road. The exhibition will feature eight stainless steel sculptures of the race cars, include life-sized replicas by renowned Indonesian sculptor, Pintor Sirait. In addition, racing jacket and helmet sculptures will be on display, as well as videos featuring the 'making of this F1 art collection to complete the urban 'race experience.

Known for his steel sculptures that provoke conversations around thought-provoking social issues, Pintor Sirait has held exhibitions internationally, including Amsterdam, China, France, Korea, Malaysia and the United States.

On why he turned to the heart-pumping race track action for inspiration, Pintor said: "People are hooked to the adrenaline rush of high-tech, gravity-defying cars at bullet speed, and the excitement of the intense F1 racing competition. In recent years, F1 has become a global phenomenon. Contemporary art often mirror the developments in pop culture. I was inspired to make sculptures of the popular F1 cars to first capture attention, then use these works as platforms to highlight the cultural tensions and universal human values we all face today."

Elaborating on the rationale of the F1 showcase, Daniel Komala, CEO of Larasati Auctioneers, said: "In the last few years, Larasati has been actively promoting the education and appreciation of Asian and Southeast Asian art. This is part of our ongoing efforts to reach out to more Singaporeans and visitors to learn more about art sculptures, a rare chance to meet with the artist, chat with him, and at the same time have fun this race season. This is why we were very happy to partner with ION Orchard to host this exhibition as we believe that Singaporeans and international visitors love to shop, as it will be good to engage them at the mall – one of the places they visit most for leisure."

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About the F1 car sculptures on exhibit

'Victory' was crushed and then restored to symbolise Lewis Hamiltons's car crash and eventual victory in the 2007 race. It will be shown alongside a video installation featuring the artist inspiration, including an accident experienced by Lewis Hamilton before he won the F1 race in Germany in 2007.

'Playboy' and 'Target' portrays the macho side of the F1 race and a playful take on the conventional ideal that "fast cars and fancy women" tend to go together.

'Desire' and 'XOXOXO' is about the love for F1 and the race cars as objects of desire and the artist's passion about fine design and fine art.

'Democracy' has always been an ideal for many nations but in recent year, it has become a tainted word, with people going to war and lives being lost to fight for equal rights. This 'fight' is powefully portrayed by the 1,500 bullet holes shot around the car.

The 'Democracy' F1 car critically observes the world we live in and pushes us to examine between what is good and bad.

About Larasati Auctioneers

Since Larasati's first auction held on 30 April 2000 in Jakarta – Indonesia, the regional auction house's reputation has grown rapidly for auctioning rare and emerging Indonesian as well as other Asian works at record prices. In 2003, Larasati marked a milestone in its pursuit to become a major player in the Asian market, with its entry into Singapore and becoming the first Asian-based auction house that crossed national borders.

Focused on featuring significant works of art and treating them as a kind of museum art, Larasati's boutique collection platforms fine works by master artists from Indonesia, China, India, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and the Philipines. Beyond just merely a matter of buying and selling art objects, Larasati is driven to enhance the appreciation and development of art in Asia.

For further information, please contact:
Emily Poon                                                                            Alina Tan
Ogilvy Public Realtions Worldwide                                Ogilvy Public Realtions Worldwide
Tel: +65 6213-7875                                                             Tel: +65 6213-7862
E-mail: emily.poon@ogilvy.com                                      E-mail: alina.tan@ogilvy.com