Lyrical Journey | lam siong onn
24 SEP - 30 OCT 2013
“Lyrical Journey” is a retrospective showing Lam Siong Onn’s artistic journey over twenty years, spanning from 1993 to 2013. Over this period, Lam has consistently used his immediate surroundings, whether jetties at the local beach, the Sunday market or bathing figures, as subjects in which he explored, tweaked and pushed the boundaries of his exploration on simplification.
In earlier works like “Bathing and Washing II, III” (1993) sinuous shapes are used in the human figures. A few years later, the application of geometries is characterised by small squares, rectangular or trapezoid shapes that become integral parts of the subject such as “Fishing Boats in Early Morning” (1996). Lam expands this idea further by using lines and turning them shapes into visual perspective guides as seen in “Fishing Boats” (2007). In the years that follow, Lam continues his exploration of geometries, such as overlaying a translucent gridlike on the work, creating an illusion of a screen as in “Village Jetty” (2009). Pushing abstraction to its limit – he reduces roofs and windows to simple polygons, each nuanced with an infinite tonal gradation of watercolour bleeds and blends as seen in “Abstraction” (2011). In the more recent works, the geometric shapes have taken on a slightly more rounded appearance, creating an overall more subdued effect as in “Fishing Boats” (2013).
Consistent through his work is the musical undertone, the rhythmic use of shapes, negative use of spaces and an overarching lyrical quality. Undeniably, in “Lyrical Journey” Lam has clearly incorporated his deeply rooted love of music into his practice of visual art.
“Lyrical Journey” is available as a limited edition size prints of twenty-five. Each print is signed and numbered by the Lam Siong Onn. The prints are produced to the highest museum and archival standards. The archival paper used is “Aquarelle Rag”, a genuine 100% rag at 310 grams per square metre, produced by Canson Arches (France), it is the same brand of paper as the original artwork, it possesses the same unique structure, surface texture and warm white tone favoured by the artist. The prints are exceptionally accurate renditions of the transparencies and textures as originally intended.