Singapore bans pornography and has an ambivalent attitude to nudity. The
government wants to encourage the arts so that Singapore can compete with
cultural centers such as London and New York, but only last month stopped a
commercial gallery from showing a painting of a female nude in a public space.
"When they invited me, they knew my work. In Egypt, they can't show it. I have
no idea if it will be shown in Singapore," said Amer.
Within days of arriving in Singapore with her erotic images of women, she says
she felt a frisson and wondered "do they want me to do something else?"
"All my work is about love, sexuality, the empowerment of women, it shows
children with porn or erotic messages, because even when you are young, you are
taught the same message, that one day the prince will come for you," said Amer.
"The power of woman, I am fascinated by this power. Is it power or not power,
what are the limits?"
Excessive Nudity?
Singapore has spent handsomely on arts venues such as theatres, concert halls
-- as well as the Singapore Tyler Print Institute where Amer and Farkhondeh are
currently working.
But its art scene still veers toward the safe, rather than the controversial,
and artists avoid subjects deemed sensitive in the city-state, including
politics, religion, race and sex.
Unsurprisingly, there is little public debate on modern art.
The Ministry of Information and the Arts (MICA), which is responsible for
encouraging Singapore's development as a "Renaissance City", sent a clear
message that it was unacceptable to show a painting of a nude in a public space
last month.
When MICA took over new offices a few years ago, it encouraged commercial
galleries to open in the same building.
One gallery wanted to display a large painting of a female nude by Chinese
artist Chen Xi in the atrium, but was told this was not allowed because
children and young people might see it.
