What comes to mind when you think of an artist? Is it acrylic paint on large canvases? Or an actor performing on a stage? Technology has driven the development of fresh new forms of art, unravelling endless possibilities and giving new meaning to what it takes to be an artist.

In an exploration of the marriage between technology and art, DBS Asia X collaborated with maker-designer Bao on a kinetic art installation that embodies the experimentation and collaborative spirit of the innovation lab. Prior to the unveiling of the art installation, we caught up with Bao on his fixation with movement and what inspires him to create.

How did your journey to becoming a “maker-designer fixated with movement and physicality” start?

I chose to focus on movement and physicality because these attributes allow me to accentuate the interaction between the audience and my work.

During my years in university, I was under the guidance of Professor Louis Philippe Demers, who is a robotics specialist, and has exhibited in many global art festivals. He taught me not only the technical skills but also the methodology behind conceptual thinking. Talking to him over the years gave me a peek into the global art scene and sprouted my passion for art.

What is the main medium you work with, and what inspired you to do so?

Currently, my focus is on 3D printing and experimenting with various materials to see how it can be used further as a medium to create art. It is my preferred choice of medium because it comes with precision and versatility, while being extremely cost-effective for prototyping projects.

That’s interesting! So, what is one art project that you created using 3D printing that you are most proud of?

That would be my recent project titled Museum of Marine Life 2119. The kinetic sculpture is a metaphorical visualisation of a future where marine creatures are extinct and a marine biologist decides to recreate what marine life used to be before the destruction from climate change.

The sculpture is curated into an upcoming exhibition at the ArtScience Museum, which has been a dream of mine since I was still an undergraduate. The work was also awarded the First prize (student category) at the Nanyang Technological University Global Digital Art Awards.

Image credit: Bao

Congratulations! With more and more people exposed to your works, what do you hope people will take away from your art?

I aim to evoke empathy and foster relationships between people, the environment and the future with my artworks.

How do you continually find new inspiration and innovation for your work?

I usually bounce ideas off with mentors, lecturers, friends and other artists about current issues, and in the process, find new perspective and ideas for future works.

Do you also face challenges as an artist, and how do you overcome them?

One of the challenges I currently face is space constraints. As I don’t have my own studio, I set up a home studio in my apartment where I do most of my prototyping works and planning. I am looking at getting my own studio in the near future, and hopefully that will open more possibilities.

How do you think local artists can continually innovate?

I think artists should not only attend local art events but also art residencies, museum and events overseas to broaden their perspective on art. Events such as Ars Electronica, the Burning Man and Berlin Biennale are some of the events I am looking to attend in the near future.

If you could summarise your art and passion into one word, what would it be?

Empathy.

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

I look forward to opening a studio and becoming a full-time prototyper, researcher and artist. I also hope one day I can come up with a project good enough to be exhibited in Ars Electronica, one of the longest running art events in the world.