Animalia: A brush with the Chinese Zodiac

Synopsis

Step into Animalia: A brush with the Chinese Zodiac , where Sue Olivier brings the 12 Chinese zodiac animals to life with a clever wink and a playful brush. Her deep love for Asian culture shines in each piece, as she boldly captures the quirky, unique traits of each creature—from the Ox’s unyielding stubbornness to the Horse’s hopeless romantic gallop. Olivier’s witty take respects the rich traditions of the zodiac, while giving each animal a modern personality that feels strikingly familiar.

We’re endlessly fascinated by the zodiac because, let’s face it—who doesn’t love a little cosmic nudge that says, “Yes, you are as charming as a Snake or as loyal as a Dog!” Olivier taps into this playful magic, making us see ourselves and others in these timeless symbols, with just enough humor to keep it fun.

A solo exhibition by Sue Olivier

Curated by Shaun Teo

Event Details

Dates: 15th to 17th November 2024

15 November 6PM – 9PM
16 November 12PM – 8PM
17 November 12PM – 7PM

Venue: Visual Arts Centre
10 Penang Rd, #01-02, Dhoby Ghaut Green, Singapore 238469)

Entry: Free for all

Exhibition Highlights

About the Artist

Sue Olivier is a South African living and working for over twenty years in multiple Asian countries. With a career rooted in the fast-paced corridors of the communications industry, she discovered her passion for art as a sanctuary away from the demands of the corporate world.

Her multicultural background serves as fertile ground not only for her imagination to take root, but also colours and informs the narrative and expression of her art. It is easy to discern a playfulness in her work that mirrors her distinct quirky perspective on life. For her, connecting two seemingly disparate ideas to come up with a surprising solution or a new way of looking is something that features strongly in her career in advertising and also her art.

Sue works predominantly in oil and acrylic, and has exhibited in a duo show in Singapore in 2018, Drawn to Life in 2024 and undertaken a number of commissions.

She is drawn to live subjects, and ANIMALIA: A brush with the Chinese Zodiac encapsulates this deep passion for humans and animals, sometimes combined in an anthropomorphic way, termed humanimal. Her works are often provocative, open to interpretation, and confronts and presents subjects in a way that is mysterious, dynamic, vulnerable yet resilient, full of spirit and vigour.

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