The Phygital World offers a satirical commentary on how the online and offline worlds have become virtually seamless in our never ending quest for information, entertainment, and social interaction. The artists in this show exemplify a new breed of cutting edge creator operating at the intersection of phygital (physical + digital) culture.  Embodying a ‘DDIY - Digital Do-It-Yourself’ philosophy and working in a wide range of media including digital print, installation, sound, and performance, these artists explore how digital technology and media can renegotiate the boundaries of contemporary artistic expression.

The Phygital World runs from 27 November until 7 December 2014 at Chan Hampe Galleries, located at Raffles Hotel Arcade #01-21, 328 North Bridge Road. The exhibition is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am - 7pm.  Admission is free.  For enquires please call +65 6338 1962.

About the Artists

Jonathan Leong (b. 1983) created his Internet avatar ‘ZXEROKOOL” after failing to register his own name for a free email address. What began as a digital persona and self styled practice of ‘Visual KungFu”, morphed into a fulltime art adventure with notable art commissions including the trophy design work for the MTV Asia Awards and a multi-media visual art opening for Kobe Bryant’s Nike Indoor Stadium Appearance in Singapore. Born in the 80s but raised at the intersection of where the Internet and digital culture began to emerge, Jonathan’s work represents a new wave of artists who are reframing the boundaries of contemporary artistic expression. Raised in the golden era of Saturday morning cartoons, second hand comics and fantasy bookstores, his work often deals with the exploration of modern mythology, mankind’s relationship with the ever-evolving technological construct, a satirical approach to pop culture and the Internet.

Li-Chuan Chong (also known as Chu'an) is a composer and sonic artist. Chuan started his training in music at age seven and subsequently moved to London under the tutelage of the late Mr. Peter Gellhorn. In 2012 Chuan pioneered new learning methodologies together with the newly formed Diploma in New Media at Republic Polytechnic where he served as the Programme Chair. His practice interests includes, but is not limited to, acoustic ecology, sound and semblance, identity formation, performativity, embodiment, and post-structuralism. He holds a Masters in Music Composition from Goldsmiths College, London.

Jack Youngblood is the fictional persona created by Singapore based UK painter Martin Constable. Through his persona he renegotiates the role of the artist as both a digital performer and visual creator. His practice is concerned with the concepts of space, real or imagined and science fiction. He has lectured at Goldsmith’s, Central St Martin, Royal College of London and is a recipient of the Institute for Media Innovation Grant, NTU, Singapore. His current research deals with the Application of Computational Aesthetics in the Acquisition and Treatment of Digital Images. He holds a Masters of Arts from Goldsmiths College, UK.

Jason Lim’s works have been collected and commissioned by various public museums, art institutions, corporate companies and private collections, both locally and internationally. Jason studied at Central St Martins College of Art & Design, between 1989 and 1992, and graduated with a BA (Hons). He attained his Master of Fine Arts Degree from Royal Melbourne Institute in 2003. His repertoire of works encompasses ceramics, photography, video art, installation art and performance art. He has organized and created various platforms for alternative art practitioners to meet and collaborate. In 2007, he presented his work Walking Sticks at the 4th World Ceramics Biennale in Korea winning the Juror’s Prize. Also in 2007 Lim presented Just Dharma and Light Weight at the Singapore Pavilion of the 52nd Venice Biennale. In recognition of his long-standing and critically acclaimed art practice, his projects, residencies and travels have been recognized, supported and awarded with numerous grants and awards since 1994.

Brandon Tay creates visual projection architecture, interactive installations, and motion art projects. He has worked in Melbourne, Singapore and abroad for the last 5 years on a variety of initiatives. Commissions include Hennessey, the Emirates Palace Hotel, KROZM, Phunk Studio, Zouk Club Singapore, MTV Asia and Australia, and artists like Ulf Langheinrich and Gina Czarneki.

Benny Goerlach AKA "Beng" is an Australian born artist residing in Singapore. In 2009 with no formal training he began an investigative journey into print making, experimenting and refining his exploration of the screen-printing medium, once a method of mass media production. His art pieces often juxtaposed social issues in the increasingly inter-connected online and offline realms thereby commenting on our society’s symbiotic relationship with technology.

VISUAL HIJACK is an experimental art collective, which explores the ever-evolving paradigm of creativity at the intersection of technology and visual culture. The collective’s work span diverse fields such as interactive systems, digital mapping, computer sculpture, photography, and image re-contextualization. Their work seeks to question the ever-morphing boundary of what constitutes art in an increasingly saturated sensory culture where the physical, digital, permanent, and ephemeral collide amidst a society where technology is consistently challenging the notion of authorship.