Low Gek Nam, John
Address Blk 23, Hougang Ave 3, #07-283, Singapore 530023
Date of Birth 19th May 1958
Race/Dialect Chinese/Teochew
Contact Hdp 9740 1188
Email ogekogek@pacific.net.sg
Biography:
As an installation-based visual arts practitioner, John Low’s primary interest centres on the subject of landscape representations of the
rural-urban city. He has also taken on two leading roles in films recently. For the last decade, this interest has shifted to a concern with
the nature of contemporary writings on art history and contemporary art practices in Singapore and Southeast Asia as part of his PhD
research programme at Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia. He explores cross-cultural, transcultural, or transnational references
in these writings and practices, especially the formulations of theoretical and practice-based methodologies between Euro-American and
Southeast Asian critical writers, art historians, and practitioners, and attempts to map their linkages, fissures, and openings.
He has discontinued his PhD programme due to medical and financial reasons, and he hopes to continue and finish his research
writing soon.
Education
Jan 2002 -
Candidate, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Art
Curtin University of Technology
(Conversion from Master of Creative Arts)
Jan 2001 –
Master of Creative Arts (by Research)
Curtin, University of Technology
Perth, Western Australia
Feb ’92 – Nov ’93
Bachelor of Arts (Art)
Curtin University Of Technology
Perth, Western Australia
Exhibitions
Aug 2009
Curating Lab: 100 Objects (Remixed)
Ghost Stories
Artspace@Helutrans
Co-presented by National Arts Council and NUS Museum
May 2009
Lead actor in HERE, a film by Ho Tzu Nyen
Premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Réalisateurs)
2005
Leading role (played the role of Tang Da Wu) in Episode 3: Tang Da Wu The Most Radical Gesture, of 4 x 4: Episodes of Singapore Art
4 episodes of Television Broadcast over Arts Centre),
Singapore Art Show, 2005
July 2003
36 Ideas from Asia: Contemporary Southeast Asian Art
National Museum of Abruzzo, L’Aquila, Italy
April 2003
Cinepolitans
Esplanade, The Center for the Arts
Singapore
Aug/Oct 2002
36 Ideas of Asia: Contemporary South-east Asian Art
Helikon Museum, Kesthley, Hungary
A project of the Association of South-east Asian Nations Committee for Culture and Information
Feb 2002
36 Ideas of Asia: Contemporary South-east Asian Art
A travelling exhibition organized by the Singapore Art Museum in collaboration with the Stiflung fur Kunst and Kulture e.V Bonn
A project of the Association of South-east Asian Nations Committee for Culture and Information
March 2002
60s Now! You Me Here Now
Singapore Art Museum
April 2002
Art Figures: Mathematics in Art
Singapore Art Museum
Sept 2001
“Open Ends”
A documentation exhibition of performance art in Singapore
The Substation
May 2001
Fusion Strength - “A Presentation of John Locke’s ‘The Second Treatise of Civil Government”
Plastic Kinetic Worms
A performance work
Dec 99/Jan 2000
Nokia Singapore Art 99
City/Community: Singapore Art Today
Singapore Art Museum
Dec ’99/Jan 2000
Ambulations
La-Salle, SIA, College of the Arts
Oct/Nov ‘99
ARX5, Hong Kong
“Untitled” – a performance work
Organisers: Artists’ Regional Exchange(ARX), Perth, Western Australia, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology, Singapore Art Museum and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore
Jun/Jul ‘99
ARX5: Perth, Western Australia, PICA(Perth
Institute of Contemporary Art)
“Home”
Organisers: Artists’ Regional Exchange(ARX), Perth, Western Australia, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology, Singapore Art Museum and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore
Oct ‘98
“Second Nature: Cityscapes of Singapore”
Central Plaza, Hong Kong
“Landscape”
Organizers: The Consulate of the Republic of Singapore in Hong Kong, The Singapore Art Museum with The Hong Kong Museum of Art
and Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre
Sept ‘98
ARX5: Process, Singapore Art Museum
“Merlion”
Organisers: Artists’ Regional Exchange(ARX), Perth, Western Australia, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong University of Science and
Technology, Singapore Art Museum and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore
Jun ‘98
“Monuments”
UE Square Shopping Centre
#01-016, Singapore
Apr ‘98
“A Refusal to be aware of all options: thinking about contemporary painting”
Curator: Lee Weng Choy
The Substation Gallery, Singapore
Mar ‘97
“Landscape”
A solo installation work
NAFA Gallery, Short Street, Singapore
Jul 92
‘The Space’
Hong Bee Warehouse
Singapore Arts Festival Fringe
Bibliography:
June Yap, “Musings on exhibition making: a response to two”, Arteri, http://www.arterimalaysia.com/2009/08/09/musings-on-exhibition-
making-a-response-to-two/
A triumph for a first-time director, (A Review of HERE), by Amanda de Guzman, Business Times
HERE, 8 DAYS, June 25, 2009
Cinepolitans (missing)
“Staging Problems: A Private Affair in Contemporary Art, Quay Yean Fee, City/Community: Singapore Art Today, pp. 31-34; Dec 1999.
“Hot house Conditions”, Margaret Moore, Real Time, Issue #28, Dec 98/Jan 99.
“Brushing off a boring Image”, Victoria Finlay, The Review, Arts, South China Morning Post, Oct 1998.
“A Refusal to be aware of all options: thinking about contemporary painting”, Lee Weng Choy, Apr 1998.
“Second Nature: Cityscapes of Singapore”, Lindy Poh, Oct 1998.
“Curtin University and the Southeast Asia Connection”, Helen Ross, Artlink, Vol. 13, Nos. 3 & 4, pg. 128.
“Landscape”, (missing)
Writings:
Sept 03
“Commentary: 10:10 Cultural Exchange and the Voice of Silence”
Vehicle, Contemporary Visual Arts, No. 9/2003
Sept 01
‘(Non)Visible Bodies/Spaces’ in
Open Ends, A documentation of performance art in Singapore
The Substation, Singapore.
Academic and Administrative Experience
Sept 2008 – May ‘09
Part-time
B.A. (Hons) and Master of Art, Contemporary Practice, Thesis Supervisor, NAFA
May 2006; Nov/Dec 07
External/Internal Assessor, MA (FA) Thesis,
LASALLE-SIA, College of the Arts
July 2005 – Dec 2006
Part-time Lecturer,
LASALLE-SIA, College of the Arts
Dissertation Tutor, BA (Hons) Fine Arts
MA (FA), Thesis Supervisor
May 2005
External Assessor, BA (Hons) FA, LASALLE-SIA;
Member, Validation panel for Masters of Art in Curatorial Practice,
LASALLE-SIA.
Jan 2002 – Sept 2004
Pathway Leader, BA (Hons.), Painting and Drawing, NAFA;
Member, FA Curriculum Development.
Dec 1997 – Jun 2000
Full-time lecturer, NAFA
Diploma in Fine Art;
NAFA/Curtin BA (Art) twinning programme
1995 – 1997
Part-time lecturer at NAFA and LASALLE-SIA
Teaching/Research Interests
Studio practice, contemporary art
Modern and Contemporary Art in Singapore, Southeast Asia and China
Art History and theoretical writings in contemporary art
Other Appointments/Works/Professional Affiliations:
May 2001- 03
Vice-President
Sculpture Society (Singapore)
Scholarships/Awards:
1991
Singapore Cultural Foundation
1999 - 2007
Curtin University International Student Scholarship (CISS)
2000 - 03
National Arts Council Arts Bursary (Overseas)
