With the opening of the Circle Line, making a trip down to the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), situated right next to the Bras Basah MRT Station, has been made easier than ever. If that is not sufficient reason for you to want to visit the SAM, then hopefully the Realism in Asian Art exhibition will be it.

Realism is commonly understood to be an attempt to reflect life objectively and realistically, but does this objective reality find its form in the style of the paintings as artistic still shots, or merely in the emotions the painters are trying to convey? There is no right answer, simply because it is difficult to isolate an independent reality that is perceived in the same light by all. Technical musings aside…Realism in Asian Art is truly an earnest attempt at telling a story – the story of how Asia evolved and grew throughout the 20^th Century.

Jointly organised by The National Art Gallery, Singapore and the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea, the exhibition is a groundbreaking project that presents Realism, often an art movement associated with Europe, within an Asian context. Portraiture, life of the working class, rural landscape and the impact of war on Asian societies – they are all part of a comprehensive presentation of life in Asia. Having the pleasure of going on the curator’s tour and even the chance to talk to the curators from the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea, I was struck by the fact that this is not an exhibition meant to confuse; it is one meant to connect with every individual, regardless of nationality and background, and I think that is what is most beautiful about it.

There’s no need for one to analyse abstract lines left completely up to personal interpretation or to consider the use of an unusual colour palette. The works in Realism in Asian Art are often mind-blowingly simple yet sophisticated – boats are but specks with a looming mountain in the background and reflections of an emerging sun perfectly captured in puddles of rain. Featuring a wide-ranging collection of Realist paintings from all across Asia (China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam), these works push forth a distinct location that is Asia to the forefront as they capture continent’s unique physical and social geographies. Common human strands link these diverse cultures and histories such as pure expressions of natural beauty, raw human strength and the sheer will found in the working class, and the shared sufferings in wars fought to preserve land for future generations.

As I sipped on my iced tea, sitting across my newly made Korean friend after the exhibition, sharing insights into my own country and culture and listening to her share about hers, my heart was ironically warmed by how despite our differences, we are all similar in some way or another that may not be immediately identifiable. That, in my opinion, is why Realism in Asian Art is something that can be appreciated by all without any pre-requisites. And that is reality, an essentially universal undertaking despite the disparities in experience from person to person.

If South Korea is out of your travel plans for this year, catch Realism in Asian Art before the 4^th of July, after which it will travel to South Korea’s Deoksugung Palace (덕수궁). The Korean leg promises to be bigger and better, with additional themes that explore Korean art and society in greater detail.

What: Realism in Asian Art exhibition

When: 3 April 2010 – 4 July 2010

Where: Singapore Art Museum (SAM)

Jointly organised by The National Art Gallery, Singapore and the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea