Amanda Heng wants photos of naked bums, lots of them.
Heng, one of Singapore’s most respected contemporary artists, wants women to lift their skirts, and expose their bare bottoms.
It’s all in the name of art and as part of her “Speak To Me, Walk With Me” solo retrospective at contemporary art space SAM at 8Q (8 Queen Street, +65 6332 3222; www.singaporeartmuseum.sg).
There’s nothing smutty or porn-like about it — it’s more about preserving your posteriors for, well, posterity.
Heng plans to use the pictures in a large-scale artwork to raise questions about one’s identity, both personal and cultural.
For more than 20 years, the Cultural Medallion winner has been asking challenging questions through her work.
One of her best-known works is her “Singirl” series, which begun in 2000.
In it, she plays with images of the Singapore Girl. Donning the signature kebaya of the SQ girl, the 60-year-old Heng used the Singapore Airlines’ icon as a blank canvas. She gave it a subversive edge by placing it in a series of unlikely scenarios and going as far as to arm her with a gas mark and a gun.
Heng wanted “Singirl” to question the image of a “gentle, submissive girl catering to European tourists” and provoke us to think about what is truly representative of Singaporean national identity.
Now, though, the kebayas are coming off. Heng hopes to amass at least 100 bare bottom images by the time her exhibition ends on January 1, 2012.
These will form the basis of a new “Singirl”-related artwork, giving the world an entirely different image of “Singapore’s girls.”
Problem is, she’s nowhere near her target. As of October 31, only 31 women have volunteered.
Tempted to show her some cheek? Head for Level One at 8Q, where a smiling female assistant awaits, armed with a camera, in a tucked-away corner booth.
We tried it and can safely report dropping your pants in a public space is surprisingly liberating.
All images are used anonymously, details are kept confidential, and you even get to vet your picture to make sure your rear end’s at its very best.
So come on girls, no ifs or buts — just butts.
“Amanda Heng: Speak To Me, Walk With Me” runs until January 1, 2012 at SAM at 8Q or post your image to www.singirl.net
Read more: C’mon Singapore, show us your bums! | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/life/c%27mon-singapore-show-us-your-bums-603720#ixzz1d6knE6Uf