What makes some of these local or global creatives tick? In this weekly column, artist Ang Sam Lo shares their many inspirations and obsessions.
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1.Mural painting: I took this picture while I was taking a break painting this mural because it truly made my heart warm and so, so lucky to be able to do this for my career. I don’t know what it is — it could be the process of trying to master every stroke with the spray can, trying new techniques in painting, braving the most erratic weather, stepping back to see my work on a large canvas or the friends I meet in this community of artists but it is in these moments I feel most alive.
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2. Sculpting: Sculpting is my escape, and working on custom sculpts like the one pictured for CanStop (an initiative by RSCLS and GarduHouse with the spray can sculpture designed by CRACK) allows me to stretch my creativity to a 3D medium. What’s odd is that somehow, I feel like I can express myself a lot better with sculpting as I get lost in the process, where I can navigate different emotions better than on 2D mediums. It feels a lot more introspective and honest, and is my escape from the world.
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3. Cycling: One of the best ways to explore the city and run errands. My bike has been a constant source of comfort and my mind is free when I navigate the different paths and routes. What’s also great about it is the fact that I can pack a lot on it as I go about my day- from buying paint to tapauing food for my fiancee, this bike is also ready for bikepacking adventures with friends- a way to escape the mundane and find beauty in our surroundings again. My Temporary Escapism series dotted across Punggol Waterway Park as part of the Public Art Trust showcase Rewritten: The World Ahead of Us is one perfect way to experience the joy of cycling, art and nature at the same time.
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4. Weekend Afternoons: I try to make it a point not to touch work on weekends so I can be present in the moment and spend some quality time with my fiancee and little pup Nezuko. As a creative freelancer I have this unhealthy obsession with my work that it would spill over to my weekends and often I would forget to take care of my mental health. Self love is so important and helps me avoid burning out, and it’s crazy that I only started acknowledging this in recent years.
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5. Paint shops and art supply stores: I don’t know what it is about seeing rows and rows of colours of spray paint on the shelves in paint supply stores, I always feel like a kid in a candy store here.
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6. James Jean’s art (and most graphic art books): Over the years I have been growing my collection of graphic books from some of my favourite artists and artists whom I am intrigued by. Images speak more to me than words do sometimes, and I was especially moved by James Jean’s ‘Slingshot’ (pictured). His works and thought process is something I really admire, from mastery of his craft to his concepts and they never fail to inspire me.
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7. M. C. Escher’s Print Gallery: This is one of my favourite pieces from an artist that changed the way I viewed art and mathematics- two things that people do not often place in the same category. If you are familiar with Escher’s practice, he often explored themes of symmetry, illusions and math in his 2D works depicting landscapes and architecture that stretches the imagination. This piece titled ‘Print Gallery’ is an extension of his skills but what I found most intriguing was that he never got to finishing this piece (hence the circle in the middle) and it was left as is until 50 years after its creation where mathematicians completed the piece. I somehow prefer it as is because it reminded me of how a great legend like Escher was human after all.
Once you’re done with Sam Lo and their obsessions, click here to catch up with our May 2021 issue.
