The Apprenticeship Programme (TAP)
If you are a serious hobbyist or aspiring young artist, TAP is the programme for you! This is your chance to take your practice in the fields of art, design, illustration, comics or photography to the next level. Besides the rare opportunity to learn first-hand from industry professionals, you will also get to create a set of works with your mentor's guidance to be showcased at a TAP group exhibition (held in conjunction with Singapore Biennale 2013) at the Singapore Art Museum's annexe, SAM at 8Q, in July/August 2013!
UPDATE: Application has closed on 27 Jan 2013. Mentors are looking through the applications. Shortlisted applicants will be notified through email by end Feb 2013 to attend an interview on 2 or 9 Mar.
Timeline
Apply by: 27 Jan 2013
Interview for shortlisted applicants: 2 or 9 Mar 2013 (TBC)
First gathering for selected apprentices: 23 Mar 2013 (TBC)
Mentoring sessions: Mar – Jun 2013
Group exhibition preparation: Jun – Jul 2013
TAP group show: Jul/Aug 2013
Is TAP for me?
If you are keen to learn more from professionals from the creative industries, then yes! All you need to do is submit 5 works that you've created (to show us how good you are) and a short write-up (to tell us why you want to be part of TAP). You must be able to commit time throughout the programme duration in order to be considered.
Application
Each applicant is required to submit 5 visual works as your portfolio, share something about yourself, tell us what you wish to learn from this apprenticeship programme and lastly, a creative project that you dream of realizing if you have any.
You have the choice to indicate up to 5 mentors that you prefer (in no order of preference). You can also choose not to indicate any mentor preference, in which case, all mentors in the category will view your application and consider you for their shortlists.
Selection process
Mentors will shortlist applicants that they are interested to mentor. Shortlisted applicants will then be invited for an interview with the mentor(s). You may bring along your portfolio if you wish to show the mentor more of your works. Don’t lose sleep over it - it’s just a casual chat for the mentor(s) to understand you better.
Successful apprentices must:
- Accept the mentors that they are assigned to for the apprenticeship period.
- Commit to attend 10 mentoring sessions (to be arranged between mentor and mentees) between March and June 2013.
- Set aside time to create and produce a creative project for showcase in the TAP group show in July/August 2013. The project could be a set of visual works/prints or an installation that you would like to pitch to us.
Mentors
Graphic design
Illustration
Multi-disciplinary art
Photography
- Bryan van der Beek
- Chow Chee Yong
- Ernest Goh
- Geoff Ang
- Jean Qingwen Loo
- Jeremy San
- Kevin Ou
- Lim Seng Tiong
- Robert Zhao Renhui
- Sha Ying
- Teo Chai Guan
- Yian Huang
Art & Design mentors
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Jerry GohCreative Director, Hjgher Jerry Goh is a creative director with background in visual communication. Combining forces with Justin Long, he founded Hjgher, a creative consultancy specialising in Design Psychology in 2006. Over the years, Hjgher has won over multinational clients with its holistic cross-disciplinary approach to design and business thinking. Jerry believes in human-centric design with an honest approach and timeless aesthetics. His love for details and carefully thought out print and typography design has led him to create Underscore, Hjgher's self-published magazine. Underscore can be found in select shops and museums in more than 100 cities around the world. Both Hjgher and Underscore has won local and international awards, such as the D&AD, One Show, ADC, AIGA, PDA and HKDA. Jerry has since participated in festivals, seminars and exhibitions in London, Japan, Malaysia and USA. He takes pride in sharing his knowledge and experiences with the public and nurturing designers, which he believes are important factors in building a design culture. |
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Kelley ChengCreative Director, The Press Room A three-time Society of Publishers Asia Award winner, editor and creative director Kelley Cheng is not just a Jill of all trades, but also a master of many. Besides being the Editor-in-Chief of Singapore Architect magazine, she also runs The Press Room, a publishing and design consultancy, as well as two trend-setting F&B outlets, 15 minutes and Night & Day. |
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Pann LimCreative Director, Kinetic Pann Lim believes that design and advertising without an idea is a sin. It is with this belief that he has devoted his time to creating ideas that won him over 300 industry awards. The year 2010 also saw Pann winning the Singapore Creative Circle Awards Best of Show (Design) and also leading Kinetic as YoungGuns International Design Agency of the Year. Because of his passion, he has been nominated as Singapore's Most Influential Creative Director by the Institute of Advertising Singapore for five years. He is currently ranked 10th in Australasia by Campaign Brief THE WORK. He was also chairman for the Crowbar Awards 2011 and head of Jury (activation) for Creative Circle Awards 2012. |
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YongFounder/Design Director, Somewhere Else Having spent nearly five years at Asylum, Yong currently heads Somewhere Else where he and his team dream up stories and mythologies for a wide range of selected clients. They constantly push to create unique works that are idea-driven, relevant and intelligently crafted. Some of these works have been featured in a number of publications worldwide. Outside of work, Yong actively helps out in the design industry: having served jury duty for the Creative Circle Awards and Noise Singapore. He has most recently taken an adjunct position in Temasek Polytechnic Design School. In his free time, he dreams of parallel universes. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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EeshaunArtist Eeshaun has being featured in 20/20 BASE, an exhibition celebrating 20 of Singapore's most creative talents, and was also part of the curatorial team for the Singapore Pavilion at the 11th Venice Architectural Biennale. Since then, he has created artworks and illustrations for Adidas, Nike, The Discovery Channel, onedotzero (UK), FARM, Nicholas, The Singapore Fashion Festival 2006, Play Imaginative, Zouk, IdN, Pictoplasma and the San Diego Comic Conference. His largest public art installation ‘Move!’, comprising of three murals at the Bishan Circle Line, was commissioned by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore and unveiled in 2009. |
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Kelvin ChanIllustrator; Art Director of Newsgraphics, The New Paper Kelvin Chan is a professional illustrator who has been in the field of information graphics for print and news media for over a decade, winning several regional and local awards for his graphic design work. Besides being the Art Director of Newsgraphics and a senior infographics journalist for The New Paper, Kelvin is also working on several comic and concept art projects. |
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Mas (Wanton Doodle)Illustrator When asked to describe himself, the artist behind Wanton Doodle confesses, "My name is Mas and I am a compulsive doodler". He is a corporate cog by day, illustrator by night, with dark eye circles to prove it. His illustrations are inspired by doodles borne out of the desire to stay awake during mind-numbing meetings and the compulsion to expend office supplies. Mas amalgamates varying styles into a look he describes as "OCD meets LSD", stretching his doodling canvas beyond traditional application onto skateboard decks, sailboats, even cable cars. He has illustrated for L'oreal, Johnnie Walker, Peugeot, Singpost and Tiger Translate; and his illustrations have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions locally and abroad. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: “To have a better understanding of yourself and apply your passion in illustration productively. Learn how to establish your identity and win over clients with it. Tackle briefs, manage projects and deliver on what is required by clients without compromising your style. Most importantly, embrace enjoyment from drawing. After all, why procrastinate fun?” |
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Speak CrypticArtist Speak Cryptic aka Farizwan Fajari is a visual artist working and living in Singapore. He graduated from LASALLE College of the Arts with a Degree in Fine Arts majoring in Painting in 2007 and has exhibited extensively in Singapore and other parts of the world since 2005. Recently, he was one of the participating artists for ‘The Singapore Show: Future Proof’, an exhibition showcasing the works of “young artists whose innovative and unique practices have generated attention and accolades in various art circles”, held at the Singapore Art Museum @ 8Q and is currently working on a mural commissioned by The Singapore Art Museum, collaborating with the residents of Taman Jurong. He also plays the electric bass for local bands I Am David Sparkle and Concave Scream and is an adjunct lecturer at Orita Sinclair School of Design, teaching drawing and illustration. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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Troy ChinComic Artist Troy Chin is a Singaporean writer and artist most known for his ongoing autobiographical comic book series The Resident Tourist, now up to its fifth part, and the recently concluded slice-of-life, four-volume comic strip series Loti. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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Jahan LohArtist Jahan Loh is a Singaporean visual artist who works primarily in the field of urban pop painting. In his visually spectacular work, Jahan significantly merges both the traditional presentation mode of 'high-end' visual pop art and modern street art into his paintings. Fusing east-meets-west aesthetic into urban aerosol painting his works have featured in innumerable art exhibitions both locally and overseas, and he has represented Singapore in New York, Los Angeles, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. Mediums of his expression extends into fusing art and design for labels like Adidas, Nike, VANS, Sony, Vestax, Carhartt, Devilock, Subcrew and HEX. |
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Justin LeeArtist/Designer Justin Lee was awarded the Mont Blanc Young Artist World Patronage Project 2006, Hamburg, Germany. He has been an active artist since 1996, having participated in several exhibitions in Singapore, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia. His recent works were exhibited at ‘Art Garden’ at the Singapore Art Museum (2011 & 2012), as well as ‘Itoshima Arts Farm’ in Japan (2012). Justin Lee’s series of works bring a different understanding of today’s Singapore society and lifestyle with a blend of east and west cultures. He believes that art plays an important role in helping people to grow and become more aware of themselves. His current works reflect on how text influences and controls the users in our daily lives. |
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Justin LokeVisual Artist, Vertical Submarine Justin Loke is a member of the art collective Vertical Submarine. In 2007, he was selected, by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, as the Singaporean representative to the Global Youth Exchange: Youth Visual Culture in Tokyo and Kyoto. Vertical Submarine received the Credit Suisse Art Residency Award, the President’s Young Talents 2009 award, which was organised by the Istana and Singapore Art Museum, and Celeste Prize 2011 (New York). Justin is also the recipient of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Singapore Foundation Arts Award 2009. Currently, he is one of the Associate Directors of TheatreWorks (Singapore) and is part of the Associate Artist Research Programme at The Substation. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
Photography mentors
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Bryan van der BeekPhotojournalist Bryan van der Beek is a photojournalist based in Singapore and whose work spans Asia, North America and Europe. A former Executive Photojournalist with The Straits Times in Singapore, Bryan has also worked at newspapers in the United States and has had his work published by Time, Time Asia, Newsweek, The Washington Post and many others. His work is in the permanent collections at the National Museum of Singapore. A graduate of the Indiana University School of Journalism, Bryan has lectured at the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University, Temasek Polytechnic as well as the Objectifs Centre for Photography and Filmmaking. |
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Chow Chee YongPhotographer Chow Chee Yong is a senior lecturer in the Department of Visual Communication at Temasek Design School in Temasek Polytechnic. He is a BFA (Honours) graduate in Photography from Western Michigan University, USA, and he received a scholarship from JCCI for his MA (Distinction) degree in Photography from Musashino Art University, Tokyo, Japan. Chee Yong has since participated in more than 30 solo and group exhibitions across Asia and the Pacific, and some of his works were even featured in international publications such as Passages North (USA) and Nippon Camera (Japan). What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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Ernest GohPhotographer Storytelling is at the heart of Ernest Goh's various human-interest projects, which includes Laughter In The Rain, a ground-breaking book documenting the history and reality of disabled sports in Singapore and Beyond Mask, a book published in honour of the medical workers who sacrificed their lives at the height of the SARS outbreak in Asia. His most recent work on animals has produced The Fish Book - a whimsical study of the ornamental fish in Singapore. Ernest studied cultural enterprise at Goldsmiths College, University of London and in recognition of his work he was awarded the inaugural Incentivising Innovation Fund by the Institute of Contemporary Arts’ A-Frame Network, an initiative of the UK government’s Cultural Leadership Programme in 2009. In 2012 he was awarded the Discernment Award at the ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu Photography Prize. |
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Geoff AngPhotographer Geoff Ang has been creating beautiful, thought-provoking and edgy pictures for almost 15 years. A self-taught lensman, the 38-year-old started shooting at his dad’s production studio at the tender age of 16. Today, he is one of the most in-demand advertising/fashion photographers in both the local and international arena. He is known for his creative eye, sophisticated use of lighting and proficiency in digital imaging. His accolades include the inaugural Singapore Fashion Awards, where he won the Fashion Photographer of the Year award after only eight months in the fashion business, as well as advertising awards in the Clio, NY Festivals, The One Show, Indonesian Advertising Awards and the London International Advertising Awards. |
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Jean Qingwen LooPhotographer Jean Qingwen Loo is an independent photographer, producer and writer. Fascinated with real experiences, she is passionate about living a life of adventure and creating social dialogue. In 2010, Jean produced The Children of Mekong, a project for the Lien Foundation that humanised water and sanitation issues through multimedia stories. She was also commissioned by HSBC Bank to document youth expeditions to Puerto Rico’s rainforest and Iceland’s glaciers. Jean has garnered a number of awards at the International Photography Awards (2009) and was recognised in the Photo District News Photo Annual 2009 and 2010. In 2009, she was selected for the prestigious Eddie Adams workshop in New York City and was featured in Female and Asian Photography magazines as an emerging talent. |
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Jeremy SanPhotographer Jeremy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Interior Design) from the RMIT in Melbourne, Australia. Building upon an ambitious documentation project of modern heritage buildings for his graduation thesis, he embarked on a career as an architectural photographer in 2001. His portfolio includes feature photography published in various local and international magazines and publications. Most recently, he has been working on a book put forth by the Singapore Heritage Society and aims to document and narrate Singapore buildings that were built from the 1920s to 1970s. Jeremy's work has also brought him to Malaysia, Hong Kong and China, where he is involved in the documentation of architectural works. His previous training and work experiences in the built environment has enabled him to capture not only the architecture but also the urbanism of the landscapes. |
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Kevin OuPhotographer Kevin Ou's destiny started a decade ago with a click far east of his adopted home in Los Angeles. Following his instincts early on, Kevin received multiple international photographic awards and defined expanded boundaries for commercial photography. In 2004, Kevin set up an agency, Four9Seven Creatives, to represent young and worthy talent. In 2008, that enterprising spirit led to a second project, the Forum Agency, which quickly became the definitive strategic marketing agency for celebrity branding. In 2009, Kevin was named one of the top 10 influential photographers in the United States and was featured prominently in the distinguished industry bible coffee table book “CreativeUSA”. Most recently, Kevin co-founded the Modern Home + Living (MH+L) brand. Kevin is currently working on his latest venture, Lumenere, Inc., a global company that leverages on corporate revenue to create a positive social change in the world. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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Lim Seng TiongPhotographer Lim Seng Tiong believes in the need for change, which is a curious philosophy for a seasoned and decorated photographer whose art lies in freezing time. However, it is this change and a search for new perspectives that makes Seng Tiong one of the most prolific photographers in the field. A former Straits Times photojournalist and recipient of the National Arts Council's Young Artist Award (1995), Seng Tiong brings more than 30 years of experience to The Apprenticeship Programme. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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Robert Zhao RenhuiArtist http://www.criticalzoologists.org/ Robert Zhao Renhui’s work is based on the concept of doubt and uncertainty. In his creation, The Institute of Critical Zoologists (ICZ) and The Land Archive, he tests the limits of the principles behind the dissemination of knowledge and acceptance of truths. He has a multi-disciplinary approach towards his work and his exhibitions include the presentation of documents, found photographs and photography based installations. Robert has exhibited at the Singapore Art Museum, The Substation Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Art (Singapore); Asian Art Museum (Japan); Chapter Gallery (Wales); Photo-Levallois Festival (Paris); GoEun Museum of Photography (Korea); The Zabludowicz Collection (London); as well as in Shanghai, the Netherlands, New York and Bangkok. He was awarded the Deutsche Bank Award in Photography (London, 2011) and The United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Award (2009), as well as The Young Artist Award by the National Arts Council (Singapore) along with the Noise Singapore Photography Prize in 2010. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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Sha YingPhotographer Sha Ying studied photography and television at Beijing Broadcasting Institute. Since settling down in Singapore over a decade ago, Sha Ying has held two solo photography exhibitions at the Substation and the Alliance Francaise de Singapore, where he was also an invited participant for the Month of Photography on several occasions. His photographic works have also been selected by several art photography books, and he is currently the supervising cameraman at the headquarters of CNBC Asia Pacific in Singapore. |
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Teo Chai GuanPhotographer Currently ranked 1st in Singapore and 11th internationally under Archive’s acclaimed advertising photographers ranking, Teo Chai Guan has set up Teo Studio and established himself as a commercial photographer. Specialising in producing conceptual advertising work consisting of still life, portrait, lifestyle and landscape photography for agencies both locally and regionally, Chai Guan has proven his ability to stay versatile and flexible. He has also received several international awards from prestigious festivals such as Cannes, D&AD, One Show, CA, Clio and Adfest. Besides commercial photography, Chai Guan also actively pursues his other major interest in fine art photography. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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Yian HuangPhotographer Yian Huang's mission is to document social and world issues, and to connect with his subjects in a sensitive and intimate manner. His works have been exhibited at the Palais du Louvre in Paris, the Singapore Art Museum, Esplanade, and in Russia, Italy and the US; and seen on the pages of the Economist, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. Formerly based in New York for the Newark Star Ledger, and in Paris as an intern at the Magnum Photo Agency, he is now living in 2 cities, Singapore and Bangkok, where he continues to photograph. What the apprentice can look forward to learning: |
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