ARTS ITINERARY
Having F1 down to a fine art
There are several art exhibitions along Orchard Road that are centred on the Formula One theme, reports CLARISSA TAN.

IT'S the final day of the F1, and you need at least one for the road. While not exactly out on the streets, the life-sized car sculptures of Pintor Sirait are parked along one of the main shopping thoroughfares of Singapore.

Within the gleaming new confines of the ION Orchard stand eight stainless steel sculptures of race cars by the renowned Indonesian artist, including three life-sized replicas. While their reference to the famous F1 vehicle are unmistakable, the sculptures also bear quirky symbols and markings that distinguish them from the actual race cars. Playboy, for instance, has its chassis liberally smeared with lipstick marks, an obvious nod-nod-wink-wink to the macho, chauvinistic side of speed racing. It's sexy, too. More sobering is Democracy, which is ridden with bullet holes.

It's perhaps ironic that the exhibition, called Pintor's F1 at ION ORCHARD and organized by auctioneer Larasati, is situated within a mall, because the artist appears circumspect about our commercialized age. Or maybe the location just underlines his message more clearly.

"Formula 1 race cars have become something of an obsession in Asia," says the sculptor. known in the art world simply as Pintor. "It stands as an intense, telescoped symbol of globalization, and I wanted to explore exactly what is being worshipped.

"These life-sized sculptures are imposing, with rich details such as bullet holes, inscriptions with Chinese and Arabic script, engravings of traditional Javanese designs or kisses, and provocative English phrases. I hope these art pieces tell vivid stories and trigger people to think beyond the race-track action, and about the cultural tension and the universal human values we all face today."

Pintor says that he's "not a particular fan of the F1". "But I do think it's a great rallying platform for many of us in the West and Asia," he adds. "Through leveraging the widespread appeal of this popular sport, I hope to high-fight larger social issues."

The artist, who has held exhibitions in the Netherlands, China, France, South Korea, Malaysia and the US, says that he hopes that his works convey the "myth of the warrior and the myth of manhood."