Thursday, September 21, 2006

Artist Bio and Track Record



Mohammed Zulkarnaen Othman@ZERO
RSCLS STUDIO
28 Aliwal Street
Aliwal Arts Centre
#02-07
S199918
Zero@rscls.org
Zerostarrfighter@gmail.com
www.zerostarrfighter.blogspot.com

A recipient of the NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL Young Artist Award for the year 2013, Mohammed Zulkarnaen Othman, commonly known by his artist moniker ZERO has been a practising artist since late 2003. His is an unconventional practice, opting to delve into the subculture norms of street art and graffiti. His notions of a street artist being a pseudo documentarist of contemporary urban life is reflected in his growth as an artist throughout the years. His artistic research and works revolve around contemporary issues on urban social life and space, current affairs and adverse effects of pop culture. A reactionary artist, Zul's body of works attempts to negotiate the oddity of street and graffiti art in a regulated space while creating social commentaries on the notion of society and space. 

Zul is also one of the founding artists for the collective ARTVSTS, a group of artists seen as the pioneers of street art and graphic-influenced graffiti in Singapore. The ARTVSTS collective paved the way for the growth of street art in Singapore in the early to mid 2000s. Zul has since founded the RSCLS collective since the hiatus of his former collective- the RSCLS collective seeks to create a vibrant and sustainable practice in the urban arts and places importance in the evolution of urban arts and its integral purpose to urban landscape and society. The nurturing of of younger artists in the collective is also important to the growth of the urban arts culture in Singapore. RSCLS constantly engages the community in their projects through talks and workshops. Zul has also recently initiated THE SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT, an ongoing initiative to archive, research and document urban arts in all 21 countries in East and South East Asia, creating a network between all practitioners of street and graffiti art throughout the region through urban cultural exchanges and symposiums.

Zul is the only urban artist to have been part of The Substation's Associate Artists program and was a nominee for the President's Young Talent in 2005. He has shown his works in numerous exhibitions and events both locally and internationally
and has also had his body of works from his solo exhibition The Spectacular Spectacular acquired by the Singapore Arts Museum as part of its permanent collection in 2011.

He lectures part time at the Lasalle College of the Arts and is a graduate from NAFA with a Diploma in Visual Communications in 2000 and subsequently, Lasalle College of the Arts with a Diploma in Fine Arts(Painting) in 2007 and a BA (HONS) in Fine Arts (Painting) in 2008.


Education

2007 - 2008
Bachelor of Arts with Honours
Lasalle College of the Arts

2006 - 2007
Diploma in Fine Arts
Lasalle College of the Arts

1997 - 2000
Diploma in Visual Communications
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

1992 - 1996 
"O" Levels
Xinimin Secondary School



Selected Exhibitions and Events
July 2014
Artist Talk
Nanyang Girls High School
Canvas Singapore

July 2014
INAUGURAL EXHIBITION 
Commissioned Artist 
Grand Opening of CANVAS SINGAPORE
Canvas Singapore

July 2014
FACEBOOK 
Commissioned Artist 
Facebook Asia HQ

July 2014
THE SOLIDARITY Movement: REBEL DAUGHTERS
ALL ASIAN FEMALE URBAN ART PRESENTATION
Artist Talk, Pop Up Exhibition, Mural Production
The Esplanade, 222, Queen Street, Singapore
Founder, Organising Committee

June 2014
BANG BANG! WONDERLAND
Coming Home Exhibition
Public Installation
PAssionArts
Kovan Hub

June 2014
CONVERSE CLASHWALL
SOUTH EAST ASIA CONVERSE Mural Installation
Manila - Jakarta - Bangkok - Singapore - Kuala Lumpur
Commissioned Artist
Singapore

April - June 2014
Specialised Art Wrokshop
Special Needs students
Grace Orchard School
Singapore

March 2014
MEETING OF STYLES: SINGAPORE
Global Graffiti Jam 
Participating Artist, Co- Organiser

March 2014
PASARBELLA: I lights Market
Commissioned Artist
Marina Bay Sands

January 2014
ALIWAL URBAN ARTS FESTIVAL
Participating Artist
Aliwal Street

January 2014
THE SOLIDARITY Movement: Indonesia X Singapore
AN URBAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE
Artist Talk, Pop Up Exhibition, Mural Production
Garduhouse, Jakarta, Indonesia
Founder, Curator

December 2013
THE SOLIDARITY Movement: Singapore x Indonesia
AN URBAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE
Artist Talk, Pop Up Exhibition, Mural Production
The Substation, Singapore
Founder, Curator

November 2013
Toying Around Exhibition
Group Exhibition
MI Casa Su Casa Gallery


October 2013
Commissioned Artist
RSCLS
Singapore Writers Festival 2013
Artist and project manager

August 2013
Art Outreach Marina Bay Sands 
Community Art Auction
Participating Artist
Marina Bay Sands

July 2013
SOLIDARITY 21: Philipines X Singapore
AN URBAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE
Artist Talk, Pop Up Exhibition, Mural Production, Bosny Graffiti Tour
Various locations, MANILA, Philippines
Founder, Curator

June 2013
SOLIDARITY 21: Singapore x Philippines
AN URBAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE
Artist Talk, Pop Up Exhibition, Mural Production
222 Queen street
Founder, Curator

May 2013
Anthology of the Abysmal
Solo Exhibition
Chan Hampe Gallery
Singapore

April 2013
JUST WRITING MY NAME
MONTANA's Global Graffiti Sessions 
Invited Artist
Yogyakarta
Indonesia

March 2013
LION CITY CLANS: THE 36 CHAMBERS
Artspace@ HELUTRANS
Curator and participating artists under RSCLS
Singapore

March 2013
THE ROJAK RENDEZVOUS
Celebrating Cultural Diversity Through Urban Art
French and Singapore Urban Art Exchange
Participating Artist and Speaker
Organised by RSCLS for the NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL
Singapore

February 2013
2ND RENDEZVOUS
South East Asian Urban Art Event
Exhibiting Artist and Speaker
Yangon, Myanmar

January 2013
Singapore River One Mural Project
Commissioned Artist with RSCLS
Public Mural at Singapore River
Singapore

July 2012
Singapore's Finest
Group Exhibition
Dominic Khoo's Le Fevrier Gallery

March 2012
PANORAMA
Recent Art From Contemporary Asia
SINGAPORE ARTS MUSEUM

March 2012
SALON 1112
The Little Things
Lasalle PT Lecturer Group Show
Earl Lu Gallery ICA
LASALLE College of the Arts

December 2011
Commissioned Artist
RSCLS (ANTZ, CLOGTWO &ZERO)
REBEL CAFE Concept Mural
Rebel Cafe, Clarke Quay

October 2011
ART EXPO MALAYSIA 2011
Exhibition and Artfair
Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

October 2011
STORYTELLERS
Exhibition by OneTwoDelta and ZERO
DAHLIA GALLERY

August 2011
RCGNTN Presents WHAT IS OUR CULTURE?
Group Exhibition
Riverwalk Mall

August 2011
SHAPESHIFTERS
Group Exhibition
GROOVE @ Zirca

August 2011
ESPLANADE YFEST Presents HOMEFRONTS
Group Exhibition
ANTZ, ASNO, CLOGTWO, TRASEONE & ZERO
Esplanade Courtyard

June 2011 - August 2011
DystoUTOPIA
Solo installation
No 8
Singapore Art Museum 8Q

June 2011
ADIDAS ALL 24 EVENT
Graffiti Mural Showpiece
Featured Artist and Judge
RSCLS (ZERO & ANTZ & CLOGTWO)
SCAPE

March 2011
FACEOFF Street Art Battle
Artists Mural Battle
Raw Art 
Old School@ Mt Sophia

November 2010
Commissioned Artist
RSCLS (ZERO & ANTZ & CLOGTWO)
REBEL CLUB Artwork
The Cannery

October 2010
Associate Artist Solo Exhibition
The Spectacular Spectacular
The Substation Gallery

August 2010
Commissioned artist
SUPAH POKE
Collaborative Exhibition with DMR, TraseOne
The Esplanade Tunnel

July 2010
Exhibiting Artist
CARBONATED VER 02
Orchard Central Shopping Centre

June 2010
Exhibiting Artist
ART TRIANGLE EXHIBITION
Balai Seni Lukis
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

March 2010
Is This Home Truly?
A Homecoming Showcase of "Graffiti" Art in Singapore
Artspace@ HELUTRANS
Participating Artist and Co-Curator

November 2009
ZERO/ KILAS
Commisioned Artist
Live Mural Artwork
President's Young Talent Showcase
8Q @ SAM

September 2009
Commisioned Artist
Live mural painitng
F1 ROCKS CONCERT
Redbull  Container Arena
Fort Canning

August 2009
Commisioned Painting Installation
Adiartist x Adidas Originals
Iluma

March 2009
Artist Showcase/ Live Painting
World Wide Festival Sessions
Singapore Arts Museum

March 2009
Artist Showcase
Tiger Translate Museum
The Atrium, Plaza Singapura

November 2008
Artistic Expression of the World Today Exhibition
The Economist
Exhibiting Artist
Singapore

October 2008
EDB "E" Icon Campaign
Creative Direction, consultation for guerilla marketing campaign
Commissioned Artist
Saatchi & Saatchi Singapore

September 2008
Commissioned Mural
Collaboration with Antz
Tiger Translate Art Tunnel
Boat Quay - Riverwalk Underpass

September 2008
Adiartist Campaign 
Adidas Artist Showcase
Commissioned Artist
Adidas Original Boutiique, Pacific Plaza

August 2008
Live Art Performance
Supperclub
Supperclub, Singapore


August 2008
Tapau: The Visual Arts Exhibition
Group Exhibition
They Art Gallery, Annexe, Pasar Seni
Kuala Lumpur

June 2008
LASALLE College of the Arts
Degree Show 2008
LASALLE College of the Arts


September 2007
Real Presence, Istanbul
Floating Sites for Istanbul Bienalle
Meeting of young artists and curators.
Under Lasalle College of the Arts and Dr Winston Oh
Travelogue Award

August - October 2007
Ephemural Space
Solo Mural Installation
Inaugural Artist
Wheelock Art Gallery

May 2007
Participating Artist
Walking with Artist Tour
SUBSTATION/ Singapore Arts Festival

April 2007
Invited Artist
DJARUM BLACK Urban Art 
Urban art event- Jakarta

October- November 2006
Writings on the Wall
Resident Artist - Public Mural Wall
Singapore Arts Museum

September 2006
Displacementary
An Exhibition by ARTVSTS
First ARTVSTS collective show
City Gallery, Basheer Bookstore

September 2006
Critical Thinking in Street Art
Workshop and Talk
Singapore Arts Museum Public Programme

June 2006
ROAR IS THE NEW PURR
Public Art Mural @ Esplanade
Charity Project where sale of artworks
Charity Auction Artwork  for ST Pocket Money Fund

May 2006
Off the Wall Party
Singapore Arts Museum 
Façade Mural
Artist/ Project coordinator

May 2006
Exhibiting Artist
Fiction@lLove Exhibition
Singapore Leg
Singapore Arts Museum

May 2006
Noise Singapore Festival Media Launch
NAC
Project Coordinator/ Artistic Direction
Artwork in Homeclub

March 2006
Trexi Invades New York Exhibition 
Participating Artist
Toy Cube, New York City

Jan 2006
Forplay: Fine Arts dates Street Art
Collaborative Exhibition with Khairuddin Hori, The Killer Gerbil and Lil Pink Devil
Warung M Nasir
Singapore

Jan 2006
Exhibiting Artist
Fiction@lLove Exhibition
Museum Of Contemporary Art Shanghai

Nov 2005
StreetTease Design Festival 2005
Graffiti@Bugis Village
Live motion mural painting:- Zero, LilPinkDevil, The Killer Gerbil, TraseOne collaboration
with ReelLoco

Sept 2005
Noise Festival Singapore
Graffiti Art Workshop Mentor
National Arts Council

Sept 2005(Collective)
TXTRAPOLIS Exhibition
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

April - June 2005
Noise Festival Singapore
Graffiti Art Workshop Trainer/ Judging panel for Noise Festival Graffiti Artwork Design
National Arts Council

May - June 2005(Collective)
Street Festival 2005 Live Street Mural Paintings with TraseOne(SG), Araldyte(UK,) Yok(AUS)
Singapore

Apr 2005(Collective)
Collective featured on Channel U docu-drama HeARTS and Soul.

Oct-Nov  2004(Collective)
Singapore Art Museum: SENI Contemporary Arts Exhibition
Invited Intervention Artist
ARTVSTS Collective
Singapore


Awards/ Grants

October 2013
YOUNG ARTIST AWARD 2013 RECIPIENT
National Arts Council / MCCY

March 2013
SEED GRANT RECIPIENT
RSCLS Collective

March 2012
BEST OF SHOW AWARD ARTIST CATEGORY
CYBERTRON Convention
Optimus Prime Artist Custom

September 2007
Dr Winston Oh Travelogue Award Recipient
Invited Artist for Real Presence
a floating event as part of the Istanbul Biennale.
Istanbul, Turkey.

August 2007
NAC ARTS BURSARY AWARDS(Local) Recipient

June 2007
Lasalle Scholarship
LASALLE College of the Arts

April 2007
Zouk FRESH 2007 Graffiti Competition
1st Place Prize Winner

August 2006 
NAC ARTS BURSARY AWARDS(Local) Recipient

May 2006
NAC International Travelling Grant 



Features


March 2014
Feature Documentary
ART OF CONVERSATION
Hosted by NMP Janice Koh
Aired on 2nd March 2014
Channel News Asia

January 2014
THE SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT
Media Coverage
Event and Artist Feature
Provoke Online Magazine, Indonesia 

September - October 2013
Various Interviews and Features
Various media
Singapore Young Artist Award 2013

September 2013
BOMB IT 2: Global Graffiti Documentary
Artist feature and interview
Directed by Jon Reiss
Distributed by Hybrid Cinema

May 2013
Interview on The Straits Times
LURE OF THE SCRAWL
Feature on street art and graffiti in Singapore

March 2013
Interview on The New Paper
LION CITY CLANS: THE 36 CHAMBERS
Artspace@ HELUTRANS
Curator

Feb 2013
Feature on Yangon Mainstream Media
2ND RENDEZVOUS
South East Asian Urban Art Event
Yangon, Myanmar

July 2012
Feature in ChannelNewsAsia
PANORAMA
Recent Art From Contemporary Asia
SINGAPORE ARTS MUSEUM

July 2012
Feature in SAMTV
PANORAMA
Recent Art From Contemporary Asia
SINGAPORE ARTS MUSEUM

December 2011
Feature in KNOCKOUT!
OKTO
Mediacorp Broadcasting

November 2011
Feature Artist Interview
Catalog Magazine Online

September 2010
Feature Interview
WOW Magazine

22 August 2010
BIG PICTURE/ Snapshot
Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund Feature
The NEW PAPER

8 July 2010
Urban Scrawl
Interview for article on graffiti art
The Straits Times/ LIFE

12 March 2010
The art of Vandalism
Interview for article on Is This Home Truly? Exhibition
The Business Times

February 2010
Off the street and into the gallery
Interview for article on graffiti art
The Straits Time/ LIFE

February 2010
Creative Commons: Rise of the Collectives
Interview for article on art collectives
The Straits Time/ LIFE

July 2009
Cover Artwork
Campus Magazine

May 2009
Rebels with a Cause
Featured interview and article on IS Magazine
Article on contemporary street art culture

November 2008
Think Globally, Act Artistically
Featured interview and article on The Straits Time
Article on The Economist exhibition

September 2008
Featured for Lasalle Outstanding Malay Student
Featured interview and article on Berita Harian

September 2007
Ephemural Space
Featured interview and article on Berita Harian

August 2007
Interview on Primetime Morning Channel News Asia
Wheelock Gallery and Ephemural Space Feature

June 2007
ART OR NOT? Spray Paint Art
Front Page Cover LIFE! Section
Featured for full page article on Graffiti Art

June 2007
Artist Profile
Two Page Center Spread Feature for Today Paper

May 2007
Wheelock Gallery Press Release
Exhibition and Artist Feature
Business Times

April 2007
Underspray Online Magazine 
Artist Interview
www.underspray.com

February 2007
Playtimes Magazine Issue 21
ARTVSTS feature for Displacementary Exhibition

December 2006
DISPLACEMENTARY 
Exhibition Feature Article
CUBES Magazine Issue 25

OCTOBER 2006
ARTVSTS/ DISPLACEMENTARY
Exhibition and Artist Feature
LIFE! The Straits Time

October 2006
Artwork featured on ISH mag for MAAD Sunday

October 2006
Interview on Suria Segar Morning Show
ARTVSTS

October 2006
Artwork feature for Reddot Museum Article
ISH Magazine

September 2006
Rubbish to Art
Exhibition and Artist Feature
The Straits Time

August 2006
Artist Feature
Teenage Magazine

May 2006
Fiction@lLove Exhibition 
Exhibition and Artist Feature
Mediacorp News and Arts Central

May 2006
Fiction@lLove Exhibition
Artwork feature 
IS Magazine 

May 2006
Fiction@lLove Exhibition
Exhibition and Artist Feature
Lianhe Zhaobao 

May 2006 
Artist Feature 
Indigo Lifestyle Magazine

Feb 2006
Forplay: Fine Art dates Street 
Exhibition and Artist Feature
Berita Harian 

Feb 2006
Forplay: Fine Art dates Street 
Featured on Channels News Asia

Jan 2006
Featured on The Straits Time
Artist interview and feature
Total Defence “Hang Tough” Project

Jan 2006
Playtimes Magazine Issue 11
6 page feature with ARTVSTS

October 2005
TXTRAPOLIS Exhibition,NAFA Gallery
Exhibition and Artist Feature
XFUNS Magazine, Taiwan

Oct 2005
Featured on Channel U News- Noise Festival

Apr 2005
Collective interview and feature
Channel U docu-drama HeARTS and Soul

March 2005
Featured on FHM magazine Singapore- Article on street arts


Community Involvement


February 2014
Presentation on Street Art and Graffiti in South East Asia
Glass Hall
Singapore Art Museum

October 2013
Graffiti Mural Workshop
Corporation Primary School

October 2013
Artist Assembly Talk
Corporation Primary School

October 2013
MOE Arts Education Symposium
Organised by Huamin Primary
Invited artist/ presenter/ panelist
Asian Civilisation Museum

October - December 2012
NAC/ Y Fest workshops and mentorships for participants from
Singapore Boys Hostel

August 2010
BATHING APE X ST POCKET FUND
Charity Art
The BATHING APE Store
Mandarin Gallery

January 2009
Stencil Design & Graffiti Workshop
Korean Exchange Students on MOE Student Exchange Programme
The Substation

2009 - Current
Workshops/ mentorship for young artists
under RSCLS collective

March - May 2009
Street art Workshop
Artist in Residence
Assumption Pathway School

March 2009
Graffiti and Stencil Design workshop
Community Involvement Programme
Northbrooks Secondary School

March 2008
Artist Talk on Urban Art
Assembly Session
Northbrooks Secondary School

March 2008
Graffiti and Stencil Design workshop
North Cluster MOE Teachers

May 2007
Participating Artist
Walking with Artist Tour
SUBSTATION/ Singapore Arts Festival

September 2006
Critical Thinking in Street Art
Workshop and Talk
Singapore Arts Museum Public Programme

September 2006
TRYBE Youth Movement
Community Mural
ZERO and TRASEONE

June 2006
Graffiti Art Workshop and Talk
Dunman Secondary School
Charity Project for Students CIP(Community Involvement Points)

June 2006
ROAR IS THE NEW PURR
Public Art Mural @ Esplanade
Charity Project where sale of artworks
Would be donated to ST Pocket Money Fund

June 2006
Graffiti Art Workshop and Talk
Dunman Secondary School
Charity Project for Students CIP(Community Involvement Points)

2004 - Current
Workshops and talks in public schools towards the education 
and understanding of urban arts


Miscellaneous

June 2011
BLANK CANVAS 3
Battle of the Crews
The Cathay Graffiti Art Competition
Judging Panel and Artwork Showcase
RSCLS (ZERO & ANTZ & CLOGTWO)
The Cathay

September 2006
Invited by NYC to be part of
Young Singaporeans Dialogue with Prime Minister
16th and 24th September

Feb 2006
Invited as judge and graffiti showcase and workshop for
FUNK IT OUT @ Heartlands Street Fiesta
Graffiti Competition

Jan 2006
Art Direction and Curation for Nexus Total Defence 
Mobile Graffiti Exhibtion containers
Mindef

Sept 2005
Noise Festival Singapore
Judge
National Arts Council