Galerie Steph is proud to present Acoustic Anarchy REDUX, a solo exhibition by SBTG featuring new works across various mediums including wood, canvas, flags, skateboard decks, and lightboxes. On view from July till August is their wholly distinctive and inimitable style that marries grit with finesse, craftsmanship with artistry, and expressiveness with urbanity. The dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind SBTG, Mark Ong and Sue-Anne Lim, will be present at the opening reception on 5 July, from 6 – 9pm.

The series Acoustic Anarchy is a semi-biographical account of Mark’s life growing up in Singapore. It not only captures the struggle against conformity and the spirit of rebellion, but also celebrates the subcultures that have informed both his life and artistic practice.

In describing the series, Mark says, “Our recent works explore an alternative universe: life as an American teenager in the 80s - the golden era of skateboarding, and the birth of a new movement. In this fictitious world of Acoustic Anarchy, skateboarding is an occupation, punk rock is a religion and Henry Rollins is god.”

An amalgamation of influences, SBTG’s works is a bricolage of punk rock and metal music, skateboarding, 80s America, military motifs, and B-grade horror movies. And their artistic practice is one infused with moral courage; living by the punk and skateboarding tenet of having the freedom to be what they want, they pursued a path in visual arts independently, relying on discipline, hard work, and DIY entrepreneurialism.

Holding fast to their skate-inspired motto ‘Evolve Beyond Your Surroundings’, they challenge themselves by often only using tools and materials available around them to translate their ideas physically. This modus operandi is mimicked in their visual language that resembles punk’s cut and paste aesthetics as they sample and reference their cultural environment. Various motifs and imageries are irreverently appropriated, skilfully deconstructed, and then adroitly juxtaposed with playfulness and acerbic wit, resulting in a visually arresting collage of recognisable idioms rendered electrifying and exhilarating.

Image: © SBTG, Galerie Steph