We’re grateful to Alex, Pat, and everyone who made this exhibition possible, in Bangkok and in Singapore, and express our gratitude to the future collectors of these wonderful works.

Image credits for the artworks in Fragile:© 2020 Alex Face, courtesy BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY and Art Porters Gallery

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Planting the seedsArt Porters Gallery was founded in 2014 by Guillaume Levy-Lambert and Sean Soh with a mission of sharing happiness with art. Our gallery’s goal is to facilitate new buyers’ early steps into the art world, and experienced collectors’ appetite for promising artists’ works. With a focus on South-East Asia, we have been actively expanding our programme of exhibitions, events and talks to nurture young artists and collectors.

We have always loved Alex Face’s works, from his street art and murals to his vinyl toys, sketches and paintings, for their unique, exceptional aesthetics and the beautiful messages they carry.

We started planting the seeds in 2017 for this exhibition when we had the pleasure to invite Alex and his family over to Singapore, where he painted a mural at the back of our gallery, situated in a charming Peranakan neighbourhood at Spottiswoode Park road.

In the left side of our mural, Alex’s iconic character, who is named Mardi like the artist’s daughter, is dressed in traditional Peranakan clothing. Mardi is riding atop a hoverboard, which was the craze in Singapore at the time of the painting.

With Fragile, Alex Face shares his poetic take on the current state of the world. At times such as these, our fragile world curls into a delicate, vulnerable position — like a child caught in the midst of a quarrel, or witnessing turmoils, social injustices and the virulent pandemic of today. The works in Fragile tenderly remind us that there is always beauty and poignancy out there, even more so in these times of uncertainty.

Alex Face - Planting the seeds, 2017, mural behind Art Porters Gallery at 64 Spottiswoode Park road, Singapore Pg.4

Fragile

The beauty I see in flowers, may be because of its fragility.

When I trim and thread a garland, I do it delicately, being careful not to bruise the petals, not to bend or break the stems.

While handling these flower petals, I come to realise its fragile beauty, my touch becomes gentler.

More cautious and aware, I sense its delicate beauty.

We may also feel this way when cradling a baby,

holding something tiny this fragile thing in our hands,

supporting it with the strength of every muscle, with an embrace as light as cotton.

We keep doing this, until we realise that both beauty and youth are short-lived.

From then we relax our muscles, we just hold it and sway along with the rhythm of the song.

Alex FaceAlex Face - Rebirth (detail)

The flowery flow no.1 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H150 x W150 cm

Unique

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The flowery flow no.2 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H150 x W150 cm

Unique

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Fragile petals 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H120 x W100 cm

Unique

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Rebirth 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H120 x W100 cm

Unique

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Song of fragility no.1 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H100 x W80 cm

Unique

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Song of fragility no.2 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H100 x W80 cm

Unique

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Wiltiful no.1 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H60 x W80 cm

Unique

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Wiltiful no.2 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H60 x W80 cm

Unique

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Sit through 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen H60 x W60 cm

Unique

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True-pink 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen, wood frame w/o frame D45 cm; w/ frame D60 cm

Unique

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True-red 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen, wood frame w/o frame D45 cm; w/ frame D60 cm

Unique

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True-white 2020

Oil, acrylic and spray on linen, wood frame w/o frame D45 cm; w/ frame D60 cm

Unique

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Clam up 2020

Pencil on paper H77 x W58 cm

Unique

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Hold on 2020

Pencil on paper H77 x W58 cm

Unique

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ALEX FACE Born in 1981, Chachoengsao, Thailand Lives and work in Bangkok

Alex Face (Patcharapon Tagruen) is an internationally recognised Thai graffiti artist who creates thought-provoking, site-based works in public spaces. His street art extends beyond Thailand and can be spotted in numerous locations worldwide. The artist rose to prominence in 2009, after becoming a father. Alex was concerned about the world in which his daughter, Mardi, will live in. Inspired, the artist conceived his signature character named after her — a three-eyed child dressed in a ragged rabbit suit, who sometimes closes her eyes and displays a weary, vulnerable look.

His recent participation in street art festival includes Peinture Fraîche Festival, Lyon, France (2019). His recent exhibitions include Very Miracle Show, Gallerie Very Yes, Reunion Island (2020), Mystical Creatures, Gallery Vertical, Chicago, USA (2019), Drifting Upstream, Galleria Ravagnan, Venice, Italy (2019).

2002 BFA (Printmaking), Department Of Fine Arts, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Bangkok, TH

Education

2020 Fragile, Art Porters Gallery, SG

2019 Drifting Upstream, Galleria Ravagnan, Venice, IT

2016 Alive, BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY, Bangkok, TH

2013 KA-MOAD 2013, Mite Ugro ZaZa Gallery, Gwangju, KR

2012 The Underground Adventure, Artery Postmodern Gallery, Bangkok, TH

2009 Alex Growth, Art Gorilla Art Gallery, Bangkok, TH

2008 Alex Art Exhibition, Preduce Shop, Bangkok, TH

2007 Love & War, Third place, Bangkok, TH

2007 Project Zero, Central World, Bangkok, TH

2006 Keep on Keeping on, si-am art space, Bangkok, TH

2006 Urban River, Art Gorillas Art Gallery, Bangkok, TH

Solo Exhibitions

2018 CO-, Galleri A / A minor, Oslo, NO

2018 Power of the Streets, Yelo House, Bangkok, TH

2017 Off the Wall, Artstage Jakarta, Jakarta, ID

2016 Pressionism: Graffiti Masterpieces on Canvas, Singapore, Pinacothèque de Paris, SG

2015 Different Stroke, @Hin Bus Depot, Penang, MY

2015 Souled out studios show, Muse Modern Art, Sydney, AU

2013 Entrée Libre: Graffiti Exhibition Alex Face & Jace, Alliance Française Bangkok, Bangkok, TH

2013 Thai-Tai Project, JUT Foundation (MOT), Taipei, TW

2012 Thai Trend, Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), Bangkok, TH

2012 Pride of The Nation#1 Tony Jaa, Artery Postmodern Gallery, Bangkok, TH

2012 Exhibition 20th Anniversary Department of Fine Art, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Bangkok, TH

2010 After the Quake, Minimal Gallery, Chiang Mai, TH

2009 Aesthetics of body, HOF Art Space, Bangkok, TH

2009 Block 18, Minimal Gallery, Chiang Mai, TH

2008 Change, HOF Art Gallery, Bangkok, TH

2008 Underground Toys 2, Art Gorillas, Bangkok, TH

2008 BKK Street Connection, Art Gorillas, Bangkok, TH

Select Group Exhibitions2020 Very Miracle Show, Gallerie Very Yes, Reunion Island, FR-RE

2020 DREAMS’ VIRTUAL REALITY EXHIBITION, Galleries’s Night Bangkok 2020, Bangkok, TH

2019 Mystical Creatures, Vertical Gallery, Chicago, US

2018 SOS, BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY, Bangkok, TH

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Street art festivals & special projects2019 Peinture Fraîche Festival, Lyon, FR

2018 Beyond Bliss: Bangkok Art Biennale 2018, Bangkok, TH

2015 Solidarity Thai-Singapore Street art project, SG

2015 Tokyo Art Fair, Tokyo, JP 2014 THE SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT Graffiti project, Jakarta, ID

2014 Hennessy x Os Gêmeos, Tokyo, JP

2014 Metro wall project, Copenhagen, DK 2014 Break the Ice Graffiti workshop, Bodø, NO

2014 Street art project, Sandkika, Oslo, NO

2014 Urban up Korea Street art festival, Seoul, KR

2014 Beyond Pressure Public art festival, Yangon, MM

2013 BUK RUK Street art festival, Bangkok, TH

2013 Art Street at Ratchadamnoen, Bangkok, TH

2013 Moniker Art Fair, Truman Brewery, London, UK

2012 THE RENDEZVOUS: Southeast Asia Urban Art Event, Yangon, MM

2011 Up 2 You Street Art Party @ Exhibition, Bangkok, TH

2011 Art Normal, Ratchaburi, TH

2010 Bomb It 2 (Documentary on graffiti art), US

2007 Short Profile Artist Project (Television project), AU

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GALLERY INFO

Art Porters Gallery, 64 Spottiswoode Park Road, Singapore 088652 +65 6909 0468 Daily from 10.30am to 7.00pm (Monday by appointment)

Guillaume Levy-Lambert guillaume@artporters.com +65 9815 1780 Sean Soh sean@artporters.com +65 9105 9335 Melvin Sim artologist@artporters.com +65 9144 7468

www.artporters.com www.facebook.com/artporters www.instagram.com/artporters