{"id":25681,"date":"2017-08-01T15:05:51","date_gmt":"2017-08-01T07:05:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/?p=25681"},"modified":"2021-04-07T15:38:04","modified_gmt":"2021-04-07T07:38:04","slug":"state-of-the-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/state-of-the-art\/","title":{"rendered":"State Of The Art"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CK Chia\u2019s art has travelled from the stage to the streets, and all over Singapore. Chances are you\u2019ve spotted some of his work in the heart of town, or as you\u2019ve hailed a cab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because, for close to a decade, CK has served as the art director for several of Singapore\u2019s top theatre companies \u2013 including W!LD RICE, Dream Academy and Singapore Repertory Theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working closely with the marketing teams of each company, he has designed beautiful, eye-catching posters, banners and artwork for some of the past decade\u2019s most iconic theatre productions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Start in The Arts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In retrospect, it seems inevitable that CK has wound up working in the theatre industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His own affinity for the theatre began from a very young age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven as a child, I was exposed to theatre \u2013 I watched Broadway shows like Godspell<\/em> and Les Miserables<\/em> at the old Kallang Theatre,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After leaving the Singapore Navy at the age of 25, CK was looking to put his graphic design training from Temasek Polytechnic to good use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shireen Abdullah, a theatre producer, put him in touch with Dream Academy\u2019s Selena Tan. The rest is history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has since carved out a reputation for himself as one of the theatre industry\u2019s finest graphic designers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A Fine Art: CK\u2019s original designs for W!LD RICE!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Image Conscious<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The job of art director is more difficult than you might think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe biggest challenge is starting out with a blank canvas,\u201d explains CK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, he has to create something quite literally out of nothing, as publicity images for a show must be ready long before opening day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the production itself still in its infancy, I have to think of ways to visualise the play and bring it to life in my imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With years of experience, he has figured out how to balance his artistic vision with feedback from his fellow artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI found myself over-thinking the comments and suggestions I was receiving on the graphic design,\u201d he remembers of his work on the inaugural production of The Importance of Being Earnest<\/em> in 2009. \u201cAs a result, I had an extremely hard time churning out the main visual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, he tries his best to make friends with his co-workers. \u201cThey should not be afraid to give you notes and feedback,\u201d he explains. \u201cThe compliments will spur you on, and the critiques will help better your work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting the Scene<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
All Set!<\/em>
CK\u2019s work served as a backdrop for a happily-ever-after in Aladdin<\/em>!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

CK\u2019s graphic design work has also opened up new opportunities and challenges for him in the theatre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2011, he made his debut as a set designer with W!LD RICE\u2019s Aladdin<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He credits director Glen Goei and the rest of the creative team with helping him to make the transition from graphic to set design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGlen guided me extensively throughout the process,\u201d says CK. \u201cHe showed me how the work of a set designer should support the way a director visualises every scene in a show.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He had to do \u201ca lot more homework\u201d as he moved out of his comfort zone of graphic design. \u201cI spent every weekend researching scenic design at the National Library, reading up on design icons like Josef Svoboda<\/a>, photocopying notes and bombarding my technical managers with questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CK will be pulling double duty on Thomas Lim\u2019s Grandmother Tongue<\/em>, which opens at the SOTA Studio Theatre in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Home Is Where The Heart Is<\/em>
CK\u2019s spare, gorgeous set design for Grandmother Tongue<\/em> (2016)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For the original production of Grandmother Tongue<\/em>, which premiered at last year\u2019s Singapore Theatre Festival, CK designed a bare \u2013 but beautiful \u2013 set, one that hinted at rather than recreated the interior of a HDB flat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGrandmother Tongue<\/em> is such an intimate experience as a play,\u201d says CK. \u201cThe characters appear to be right within reach of the audiences, and you can identify so immediately with the words they say and the emotions they express.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs a designer, we sometimes worry that an extremely pared-down design could make people ask: \u2018Why do we need set design to design a \u2018nothing\u2019?\u2019\u201d But that is precisely my role \u2013 to understand the text and allow the space I create to augment, not distract from, the story.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
This is what CK Brings to the Table\u2026<\/em>
[CK with Petrina Dawn Tan, Grandmother Tongue<\/em>\u2019s lighting designer]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the more unique elements of Grandmother Tongue<\/em>\u2019s set is the table over which characters sit, have meals and negotiate their differences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe table is a significant symbol for Asian families \u2013 it represents gathering, or a reunion,\u201d explains CK of his decision to create a piece that combines elements of tradition and modernity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis table, in particular, represents the different generations and their struggle to communicate in the play \u2013 but it\u2019s also where grandmother and grandson come together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Black and White<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In the theatre, CK works in every shade of the rainbow. After all, the images he designs must pop with bright, vibrant colour to catch the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why he prefers a comparatively monochromatic colour scheme when off the clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Instagram, CK has gained a substantial following with his distinctive shots, each one a study in light, shadow and the occasional subtle pop of colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPersonally, I am driven more by textures and compositions than colours,\u201d CK says. \u201cMy daily work requires me to step out of my personal style to serve my clients\u2019 needs. Instagram is a haven for me to express myself through a desaturated lens.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From posters to scenic backdrops, CK Chia has brought colour and life to his work in the theatre. He chats with us about his dual roles as Grandmother Tongue\u2019s art director and set designer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":25682,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[215,214,94],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25681"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25681"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25681\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25681"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/www.wildrice.com.sg\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}