It is hard to speak about contemporary art in a vacuum. The definition of contemporary art has been developing and changing. Uje Jungwirth coined the term in 1978; since then, it has been used to describe impactful artworks of contemporary interest. Its technological, social, and economic innovations distinguish contemporary art. While some view it as a political statement, others see it as an expression of individual creativity.
One of the most challenging things for an outsider to understand about the art world is the complex and paradoxical relationship between creator and bought. The creator is an economic phenomenon, the product of a successful business model. Yet, there is also a corresponding responsibility—a sense that you are an asset, not just a product—that is bought with your time and expertise.
Nikk can be described as a modern, influential artist from Singapore with a strong interest in portrait and still life painting. His artworks are mainly based on nature, fantasy, and science fiction themes. His style has a mature, classical touch combined with lively cartoon-like details, which give his works a unique yet friendly appearance. Besides owning his studio, where he spends his days working on done pieces for clients and posting promotional photos on his social media sites, he also organizes local artsy nights at local coffee shops.
Painter of large ‘contemporary abstract impressionist’ canvases
Nik Helbig was born in Singapore in 1954. He was educated at the Yerkes College of Art and began his formal art education at The Rhode Island School of Design. During his years at Ris, he painted several pieces selected for exhibition at the 1974 American Abstract Film Festival in San Francisco, where they won first prize. A prolific artist, his work has been featured in many solo and group shows throughout the world. However, his best-known work comprises large-scale studio paintings.
Nikk has been painting since he was 13 years old. He studied art at the Art Students League of Singapore, where he gained recognition for his acrylic paintings with vibrant color palettes. Being a highly imaginative person, he makes his paintings come alive differently by adding various media like wood blocks, pastels, oils, and acrylic. His latest exhibition, “Nikk’s Neat Stuff,” was selected for the Singapore pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2010. He is also a key figure in the ongoing development of contemporary art in Singapore through his monthly webzine, Anarchist Essays.
If you are a contemporary artist or concerned about your art’s future, become a member of the AIGA Singapore, a not-for-profit association with over 50 years of history. The AIGA is one of the oldest societies of its kind globally, with over 1,000 active members and over 50,000 paintings, prints, sculptures, and drawings in their collections. The association’s mission is to promote contemporary worldwide art through a network of local galleries, museums, and cultural institutions.
His work is held in private and corporate collections
Singapore has a wealth of creativity and legacy, coming from an artistic tradition that spans centuries. By harnessing creativity through architecture, art institutions, design practice, and public service, Nik Helbig brings a fresh perspective to the ongoing conversation on architecture, identity, and urban revitalization in Asia. As a citizen of Singapore, He contributes through his artwork in public spaces that inspires people to reflect on issues relating to identity, space, and urban revitalization.
His work is depicted in many private and corporate collections worldwide, including the prestigious Alex Theatre in London, the Tate Modern in San Francisco, the National Gallery of Australia, and the Bangkok Art Gallery. He has received multiple awards for his work, including the Prix du Japon in 2012. His practice focuses on interpretations of contemporary Asian art forms through cross-disciplinary exploration and display.
The media that he uses is very versatile.
His medium is mainly pictures and can be of different genres like architecture, pop culture, and still life photography. He also uses video and still images in his pieces. He was referred to as an Architecture Artist since his art incorporates size and perspective in his work. His artistic style is like that of contemporary European artists such as Peter Blake or Hrant Dink. A big fan of photography, film production, and theater art, he is currently working on a play based on his own experiences living in Singapore as an Asian American.
His media of choice include still-life prints, collage paintings, pastel paintings, and digitally painted landscapes. In addition, he uses acrylic on black and white paper for his modern art pieces. Singapore has seen many artists succeed because of the ease of access to artistic materials and media. Contemporary Artist from Singapore Nik Helbig looks to expand on this belief by providing his community with fresh ideas that push the fine line between art and commerce.
Singapore has one of the wealthiest artistic cultures in the world. Artists from all over the world come here to work. Because of this, Singapore has become known as one of the premier art hubs in the world. The widespread popularity and recognition of contemporary art in Singapore can be attributed to the abundance of art galleries, art shows, cafés and galleries.
Conclusion
Modern art and contemporary art are not always easy to understand. Sometimes, it’s hard to even for the most sophisticated art experts to explain what’s going on. However, during the past decade, the idea of an artist as a creative persona took hold in our collective imagination.
This has resulted in the development of new artistic movements and movements within art itself: performance art, graphic art, performance literature, film/video, and non-conformist artistic movements. In addition, pursuing excellence in art seems to be on the rise worldwide, as evidenced by the growth of organizations like The Contemporary art Society/The Asian Visual arts Alliance (CASA/AUSA) in Singapore and The Art Society of Britain (ASS).
It isn’t necessary to look at the most extraordinary things in the world to be inspired; indeed, most ordinary things have the potential to speak volumes about our times. Sometimes the world is in such a state of disarray that it is difficult even to see this disarray; at other times, it seems to move in slow motion as if time were not passing but was being held back by some invisible force. Thus, it is worthwhile seeking art; when one seeks art out of an intuitive sense of appreciation for the beauty in ordinary things, to unravel this chaos and discover order within it.
