M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2010 - Last Meals

January 2010 kicked off with M1 Singapore Fringe Festival entitled "Art & The Law". The M1 Singapore Fringe Festival is an annual festival of theatre, dance, music, visual arts and mixed media created and presented by Singaporean and international artists. Themed differently each year, the Festival aims to bring the best of contemporary, cutting-edge and socially-engaged works to the Singapore audience.

I've never been a close follower of the Fringe Fest and similarly, this year's theme and performances line up did not intrigue me. There was nothing compelling enough to make me want to part my hard earned dollar.

I however did not mind soaking in the free Fringe Galleries. There were 5 showcases scattered at Sculpture Square featuring "Border", ION Gallery featuring "America The Gift Shop" and Esplanade featuring "Last Meals", "The Scale of Justice" and "A guide to common flora and fauna of the world".

It wasn't until 24 January, the last day of the exhibit that I finally found time for a visit at the Esplanade. Soaking in art and a bottle of icy cold beer is certainly one of the more lovely ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. I did both ;P

Last Meals - Jonathon Kambouris
Lined along the tunnel path between City Link and Esplanade Mall was Jonathon Kambouris' photography exhibit where the last meals of death row inmates are superimposed onto their grim-looking mugshots.


Introduction to the exhibit. The entire exhibit can also be viewed online at http://www.lastmealsproject.com/



There is certainly something very dark in the use of actual convicts' pictures and a presentation of their choice of food before hitting the gallows. It echoed a comic feel to a tragic end. Perhaps even mockery. It is hard to imagine the effect this exhibit might have on families and friends on both the convicts and victims.




As much as I would love to love the exhibit, I completed the showcase with unanswered questions. With the photos were corresponding fact sheets listing only the convicted killer’s name, time of death, US state, the food they’ve chosen for their last meal and manner of execution. I didn't know anything more about the convict nor their crime, nor any glimpse of why they particularly picked their last meal choices. There was little relationship between the convict and the food, the exhibit and the audience.



About the artist - Jonathon Kambouris' interests have always been gritty, dark and even taboo subject matter, and the work he produces reflect this greatly. He considers himself to be a non-traditional still-life photographer who prefers his environment of choice to be the outdoor landscape rather than the studio.

Read:
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2010 - A Guide to the Common Flora and Fauna of the World
M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2010 - The Scale of Justice

More M1 Singapore Fringe Festival 2010 Gallery Pictures