NEO_ARTEFACTS is an experimental initiative by Fazleen Karlan that looks into the intersection between art and archaeology.
Drawing from her past experience as a post-excavation technician, NEO_ARTEFACTS seeks to reassemble fragments of material from different timeframes, constructing personal and cultural realities. Growing up as a millennial, the works conflate a variety of influences including the rise of the Internet and its material culture. NEO_ARTEFACTS has presented in several group exhibitions in Singapore and was an Artist-in-Residence with NTU Centre for Contemporary Art between April - August 2022.
collaborations/say hello: info[at]neoartefacts.com
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#sgbyecentennial (2019)
This work is a response to the Singapore Bicentennial 2019, derived from the observation that there is excessive commemoration of Singapore’s fishing village narrative. It presents an alternative entry point in comparison to Raffles who is framed as the founder of Singapore and the various devices employed to perpetuate this understanding.
In referencing Singapore’s archaeology, this work uncovers the labour that is involved in peeling away at layers of information to have a more textured understanding of why certain aspects of Singapore’s history is often celebrated. This includes highlighting the broken artefacts that form the historical landscape of Singapore, as they are usually disregarded because of their prosaic appearance.
︎ Exhibition︎ The Lasalle Show Exhibition 2019
In referencing Singapore’s archaeology, this work uncovers the labour that is involved in peeling away at layers of information to have a more textured understanding of why certain aspects of Singapore’s history is often celebrated. This includes highlighting the broken artefacts that form the historical landscape of Singapore, as they are usually disregarded because of their prosaic appearance.
︎ Exhibition︎ The Lasalle Show Exhibition 2019
Paper pulp, soil, found objects, acrylic paint, white glue
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