I Would Prefer Not To

For artist Sandrine Llouquet, the statement that titles her show references the book Bartleby by Herman Melville and ‘symbolises a kind of smooth rebellion’ that she describes as being characteristic of her work. ‘I use images like poets use words: poets use words not to explain something in as clear a way as possible, but to explain something in a way that is more abstract. That gives the possibility of more interpretations.’

Inspired by the everyday as well as recurring ideas linked to childhood, the French-Vietnamese artist works mainly with drawing but also incorporates materials such as concrete and plastic to create installations. Following exhibitions of her work in Korea, the US, China, Austria and France, she opens her fi rst solo exhibition in Singapore with a mix of ink drawings, watercolour, animation and installation art. Betraying an indifference towards the industry’s preference for large works and a keen awareness of her craft, she creates pieces that are illustrative and representational on one hand, but rich in detail on the other.

Llouquet is keenly aware of how to use the vivid transparency of painting, as well as how to capitalise on sensitive brushwork to make pieces that work for both the aesthetically attuned as well as the viewer simply looking for engaging images. Her subject matter, largely fi gurative, teeters between delightful and disturbing: each piece is both a narrative unfolding and an openended story seeking interpretation. In her own words: ‘I just want to create works that will stimulate the imagination and can be interpreted by everyone, with relevance to their own background, experience and references.’ Tania De Rozario