Ceiling Drawing (after Sol LeWitt)
Berny Tan
2025
Masking tape
13 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, 10am to 6pm
Journey East
#03-02
Tan Boon Liat Building
The black box that hosts this exhibition series was designed with a number of openings – doors and windows that can be left open or closed depending on the needs of each artist. One opening that has stayed constant is the top of the box, which has been left uncovered so that the interior can be lit from above.
In this site-specific installation, a ‘drawing’ is created in place of this absent ceiling. It borrows the logic of pioneering conceptual artist Sol LeWitt’s Drawing Series, a system built upon lines in four basic directions (vertical, horizontal, left-to-right diagonal, and right-to-left diagonal). Developed by LeWitt between 1968 and 1974, it formed the foundation of many of his works throughout his life, including his Wall Drawings. These exist only as text-based instructions until the point of exhibition, when they can be executed directly onto walls using mediums such as graphite, coloured pencil, paint, and ink.
Here, artist Berny Tan shifts the drawing surface from wall to ceiling, or rather the space where the ceiling should be. It is the latest in a series of studies based on LeWitt’s system, each one rendering his lines using a medium and method not usually meant for drawing – knitted yarn, embroidered thread, or in this case, masking tape. In each exploration, the simple geometry of the system makes room for unexpected materialities to surface. This iteration leverages masking tape’s translucency and opacity: the former revealing patterned layers in each intersection, while the latter casting shadows that fill the otherwise empty box.
Artist Bio
Berny Tan (b.1990, Singapore) is an artist and curator who explores the tensions that arise when she applies systems to – and unearths systems in – her subjective experiences. Her strategies often reflect a fundamental interest in language as it is read, written, and spoken by her. In her curatorial work, she nurtures an artist-centred practice grounded in empathy, sensitivity, and collaboration. Between 2021 and 2024 – while continuing to present her artwork in solo and group exhibitions – she organised 8 curatorial projects in Singapore, including a publicly accessible residency as part of Singapore Biennale 2022. She was awarded the 2022 IMPART Art Prize in the curator category in recognition of her independent practice.
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Supper House, in collaboration with Journey East, will start their art calendar with a new show 开门见山 at Journey East at Tan Boon Liat Building.
Starting on the 5th of June 2025, we will be joined by 10 artists with 8 monthly presentations all the way to January 2026.
Every month, an artist will take over the Supper House pop-up and present their ideals, values, and concepts to our visitors.
What are the perceived values in objects that we hold dear? We have been asking ourselves this all day.
What is valuable is a matter of perspectives. In this world constantly shaped by opinions and values held dear to each and every unique individual, how do we then, each of us, see the value in the common things?
How each of us consumes and takes in art is a highly debatable subject. Much like how we view different locales.
Much like a dream, a mirage, or an idea, these are but forced perspectives valued by its owner, its creator.
We look forward to welcoming each and every one of you in the months ahead.
Featuring:
Hans Chew
Akai Chew
Theophilus Kwek
Sam Lay
Genevieve Leong
Joanne Lim
Ong Si Hui
Fiona Seow
Berny Tan
Jayden Tan
Owen Tee Hao Wei
Alexander Teoh