There in the middleness: An Installation by KSY (Nathan Yong)
ByJenevieve Kok'There in the middleness' - Nathan Yong, Image courtesy of Nathan Yong
'There in the middleness' is Singaporean artist KSY (a.k.a Nathan Yong)'s latest installation - a large monolithic piece set within the vast greenery of The Padang in Singapore, and distanced peripherally by the city's modern skyline. Commissioned by National Gallery Singapore, this installation examines the need for re-evaluation of modernisation in a post-pandemic world as a progressive society.
Image courtesy of Nathan Yong
The installation draws the viewer to its peaceful inner sanctum. It aims to lift the spirits of the viewer to then collectively as a society reimagine new possibilities for the future. It symbolises hope and empowerment in facing the impending challenges with newfound values.
Symbolising hope and healing, the circle is a perfect and geometric form that signifies totality, wholeness, and perfection. It also communicates the infinite, timeless nature of the cycle: the cycle of development, of improvement, and progression. The circle represents power and hope; it draws the viewer into its core, accepting and confronting its observers. It seeks to empower, symbolising the dawn of a new beginning and of a new season.
Detail view, Image courtesy of Nathan Yong
The 'I-beam' represents strength and progression as a nation. Its formal characteristic symbolises the advancement of technology, and the high-density hyper-urbanised development of the metropolis.
Profile view, Image courtesy of Nathan Yong
Nathan was inspired by the Ouroboros, an ancient Greek symbol that depicts a circular serpentine feeding on its own tail. It symbolises the cyclical nature of mankind; the cycle of rebirth, completion, unification, regeneration and eternity. Akin to a serpent shedding its old skin, removing redundancies in preparation for growth, it speaks of the evolutionary cycle of mankind.
Humanity, more so now than ever, calls for us to rise beyond our old ways and respond with heightened consciousness to a distraught post-pandemic world. Like the Ouroboros, we need to shed our old ways (signified by the 'I-beam' that represents the modern city) to attain enlightenment and empowerment (signified by the circular form that represents intellectual and spiritual understanding and growth). Only then will we be able overcome these challenges as a society.
Image courtesy of Nathan Yong
Image courtesy of Nathan Yong
About the Artist
Since he launched his eponymous design studio two decades ago, Nathan Yong has gained a large, international audience and recognition. Lesser known than the numerous pieces born from his long-term collaborations with high-end brands such as Design Within Reach (USA), Living Divani (Italy) or Ligne Roset (France), his artistic explorations have enabled him to delve deeper into his fascination formaterials. From the most delicate glazed porcelain to steel and cast concrete, his works of art have conveyed Yong’s desire to enhance the intrinsic qualities of materials in unexpected ways. It is a tale of exploration, read with fresh eyes, unmarred by prejudice or fear, an unfurling flow of artistic aspirations enriched by the designer’s heightened sense of materials. This new chapter called for a new alias; or rather, a return to his roots, choosing to revert to his birth name, Kok Seng, to embrace his real self, nurtured by the sum of numerous experiences. “KSY” : the self-effacing choice of initials meant to emphasize his works as the only protagonist of this new story.
