Amidst the many coffee joints and restaurants parked along the stretch of Ann Siang Hill, it’s almost easy to walk right past WOAW Gallery if you’re not actively looking for it. But with its walls currently splashed in pink, this little nook that’s hidden in plain sight now stands out, inviting curious peeks from passersby.
Nope, it’s not yet another Barbiecore pop-up riding on the hype of the Barbie movie; this is UK-born, NYC-based artist Jon Burgerman’s first solo exhibition in Singapore. Titled ‘Feel The Heat’, this art display is full of candy-hued paintings that seem cute at first glance, but come with a heavier underlying message related to global warming and its worrying effects on the earth.
According to the artist, “The title is somewhat tongue-in-cheek about the artwork on show yet also deadly serious about the perilous state our planet is in. This in turn mirrors my work (and myself); a dichotomy of playfulness and anxiety.”
Featuring graffiti-style animals like bears and rabbits that appear to be melting, Burgerman’s playful yet poignant art also touches on the topic of mental health and addresses the complexity of human emotions.
‘Feel The Heat’ by Jon Burgerman will be running at WOAW Gallery until September 23 2023. Entry is free.