BREAKFAST WITH ARTISTS – EMI AVORA AND LOUSIA RAJ, THE JOURNEY OF AN EMERGING ARTIST: FROM ARTIST’S STUDIO TO THE GALLERY

Art Works Gallery welcomed guests on March 1 for a breakfast and panel discussion with artists Emi Avora and Louisa Raj. Led by Art Works’ Artist Liaison Marie Deneux, the panel discussion allowed guests a glimpse into the artists’ practice and insight into their journeys within their career. Emi Avora is a Singapore based artist from Greece, celebrated for her vibrant dreamscapes that seamlessly blend different cultures and histories. Louisa Raj is a self-taught artist from Singapore, whose realist works capture the beauty of the everyday moments. Often drawing inspiration from Asian cultures, Raj’s work leaves a sweet hint of nostalgia in its wake. The breakfast showcased works by both artists and guests had the opportunity to speak with Avora and Raj and connect with both them and their art.

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During the panel discussion, Avora and Raj both touched upon their own experiences connecting with Singaporean culture within their artistic practice, and the inspiration they have drawn from their environments. Alongside this they discussed the role of social media within their careers and managing the effects of an increasingly publicised and digital world on their own practices. Both artists celebrate the magic that is held by the mundane, from the apple juice cans and Nescafe coffee jars in Raj’s paintings to the roosters and retro furniture sets dotted around Avora’s compositions. Raj discussed the symbolism behind the objects that she chooses, and how they have become motifs for pivotal moments in her life. Nescafe was the first type of coffee Raj began drinking and the Nescafe jar has cemented itself as a symbol of her journey into adulthood, the bittersweet note of her departure from childhood combining with the sweetness of the excitement of the years ahead to create a flavour not dissimilar from the instant coffee.

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While Avora’s experience of Singaporean culture began later in life, the artist has embedded the essence of the heritage into the rich tapestry of her artistic practice. In The Wheel Will Turn, Avora reminisced on the inspiration behind the piece: the old shopping mall where her children had their enrichment classes. The deserted space became a perfect canvas onto which Avora was able to imagine her eclectic landscapes, weaving a narrative that transcends both time and geography. Avora and Raj’s different experiences of Singaporean culture complement each other in the way that they capture memories and the fleeting magic of everyday life.

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