THE PUBLIC GALLERY
a versatile yet unconventional gallery space that welcome collaborations between artists and curators of all backgrounds
vintage enamel signs
(level r)
Enamel signs emerged in the mid-1800s as a form of advertisement for food, household items, petrol and a variety of services in the United Kingdom. Signs were constructed out of vitreous enamel, involving a process where coloured glass was fused to iron plates. Enamel signs were often displayed outdoors, using catchy slogans and vivid colours to attract customers; this led them to be known as “street jewellery”. Stores in the 1800s were often highly specialised, and relied heavily on enamel signs to not just inform shoppers about specific products for purchase, but also to act as an effective branding tool to set their wares apart from similar products. Due to advancements in printing in the 20th century, enamel signs were gradually replaced by cheaper advertising hoardings, and virtually disappeared by the 1950s.
ABOUT THE COLLECTION
This collection traces how vintage enamel signs document the many facets of everyday life for middle-class consumers between the 1800s to the mid-1900s. Two collections - Tasks at Home and Infant Care - investigate the domestic lives of women, while the Delicacies of the Middle Class collection offers a rare look at historic 19th century chocolate manufacturers. Or, discover the leisure activities of working and middle-class folk through the Industrial Alehouses and Travel and Transportation collections - which explore industrial drinking culture and innovations to transportation respectively.
DISCOVER 1800S CONSUMER LIFE IN ar
Allow The Public Gallery’s wacky host, Mr Punch to introduce you some of the museum’s featured vintage enamel advertising signs reflecting mid-1800s consumer life in action!
Built thoughtfully as a hybrid between an urban venue and event space and an industrial exhibition gallery, The Public Gallery aims to build a community of creatives who dare to defy convention in their artistic practice, and know how not to take themselves too seriously with a drink in their hand.
nana tedja
(level one)
”In painting I have a technique of stacking paint several times. So that there will be lots of free colors. There is also a thick texture because there are 4 to 8 color stacks. I also don’t care about nirmana, the rule of combining colors when I study art at the Indonesia Institute of Art Yogyakarta (ISI) Postgraduate Program, fineart department. I make colors as I like. Blue doesn’t match yellow, green doesn’t go with orange. Even the forbidden green and blue colors side by side. I combined them. I enjoy all the colors and shapes of objects in my paintings. This object has been formed since I first painting when I was 5 years old. I created the same object as now, only with improved technique. I will give the lines in the finishing of the painting.” – Nana Tedja
artworks
artworks inspired by the museum
never apart - jays phua
(works sold online only)
# Never Apart
Never Apart is a collection of mixed media paintings by artist Jays Phua, characterized by Popobe PVC bear figurines affixed onto painted canvases.
The Singaporean artist, known for his abstract acrylic paintings, started using PVC bears in his art 4 years ago. While experimenting with mediums, Jays made his first Never Apart series with Popobe PVC bears from his 30 year old toy collection.
The experimental pieces were an instant hit with his audience on social media, and he was soon receiving requests for more works of the same style.
Never Apart paintings are available individually and frequently classified into series of 3 – 5 pieces each.
Works from the same series are created at the same time with the same materials or of the same style. Some series, encouraged to be purchased as a set, extends into larger wall arts with a continuous, flowing background when the displayed in sequence.
All Never Apart paintings are numbered and signed by the artist, and accompanied with a certificate of authenticity.
“Never Apart” is a series exploring the idea of creating freely. Exploring the possibilities of what paintings are, Popobe Bears are chosen by the Artist in this animated work of art in nonconformity. The bears are poised as if speaking directly to the viewer, reminding of their childhood joy and innocence.
