Inspiration by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

“Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness. If, in our heart, we still cling to anything – anger, anxiety, or possessions – we cannot be free.” ― Thích Nhất Hạnh

Sand Art - “Da Vinci the Visionary”

"Where the spirit does not work with the hand, there is no art." - Leonardo Da Vinci

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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LawSinger

Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

Sand Animation, Sand Painting, Sand Drawing, Sand Art - Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence Koh

"In Buddhism, they say attachment to anything only leads to suffering. So when we laugh, it's our way of saying, 'I'm unattached to that.' You're tickled by it, it makes your lobes do something on their own. So humor is very important to me. I always take that to the stage first." - Jason Mraz

Sand animation, also known as sand art, is a term which has two meanings. It is the name given to a style of live performance art and to a type of animation. In the former, an artist creates a series of images using sand, a process which is achieved by applying sand to a surface and then rendering images by drawing lines and figures in the sand with one's hands. A sand animation performer will often use the aid of an overhead projector or lightbox (similar to one used by photographers to view translucent films). In the latter, animators move around sand on a backlighted or frontlighted piece of glass to create each frame for their animated films.

Sand Painting of the World:

Tibet - The Sand Mandala (Tibetan: དཀྱིལ་འཁོར།, Wylie: dkyil 'khor; Chinese: 沙坛城; pinyin: Shā Tánchéng) is a Tibetan Buddhist tradition involving the creation and destruction of mandalas made from colored sand. A sand mandala is ritualistically dismantled once it has been completed and its accompanying ceremonies and viewing are finished to symbolize the Buddhist doctrinal belief in the transitory nature of material life.

Native American - In the sandpainting of southwestern Native Americans (the most famous of which are the Navajo (known as the Diné)), the Medicine Man (or Hatałii) paints loosely upon the ground of a hogan, where the ceremony takes place, or on a buckskin or cloth tarpaulin, by letting the coloured sands flow through his fingers with control and skill. There are 600 to 1,000 different traditional designs for sandpaintings known to the Navajo. They do not view the paintings as static objects, but as spiritual, living beings to be treated with great respect. More than 30 different sandpaintings may be associated with one ceremony.

Indigenous Australian - Indigenous Australian art has a history which covers more than 30,000 years, and a wide range of native traditions and styles. These have been studied in recent decades and their complexity has gained increased international recognition.[2] Aboriginal Art covers a wide variety of media, including sandpainting, painting on leaves, wood carving, rock carving, sculpture, and ceremonial clothing, as well as artistic embellishments found on weaponry and also tools. Art is one of the key rituals of Aboriginal culture. It was and still is, used to mark territory, record history, and tell stories about "The Dreaming".

Japanese tray pictures - From the 15th century in Japan, Buddhist artists in the times of the shoguns practiced the craft of bonseki by sprinkling dry colored sand and pebbles onto the surface of plain black lacquered trays. They used bird feathers as brushes to form the sandy surface into seascapes and landscapes. These tray pictures were used in religious ceremonies. Japanese esoteric Buddhism was transmitted from East Central Asia after the 8th century, and thus these Japanese Buddhist sandpaintings may share earlier historical roots with the more intricate brightly coloured Buddhist sand mandalas created by Tibetan Buddhist monks.

Table decking - During the 17th and 18th centuries, the royal courts of Europe employed "table deckers", who decorated the side tables at royal banquets having adapted the craft of 'bonseki' from the Japanese. The table deckers sprinkled coloured sands, marble dust, sugars, etc. upon the surface of plain white tablecloths to create unfixed pictures of fruit, flowers, birds and rustic scenery. In between each design spaces were left for fruit bowls and sweetmeat dishes so that the diners could refresh themselves in between the main courses of the feast. These ornate pictures were discarded along with the debris of the feast.

Georgian sandpainting - Sandpainting as a craft was inspired by King George III, who was a skilled watchmaker and craftsman in his own right, and took an interest in the skills demonstrated by royal functionaries, known as Table Deckers, who decorated the white table-cloths at royal banquets with ornate centre-pieces decorated by using coloured sands and sugars as 'paint', and a bird's feather as a 'brush' a craft introduced by a European traveller who had observed the craftsmen at work in Japan.

Victorian sand picture souvenirs - Thousands of sites exist where it is possible to collect natural coloured sands for craftwork, with an enormous range of colours being available around the globe varying with the contents of the mineral charged waters leaching through the sands. But for the tourist the vertical sand cliffs at Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight form the central portion of a visual geological phenomenon (best viewed after a shower of rain) which encapsulates the impressive chalk spires of The Needles and Tennyson Downs. Aspiring sand crafters are now banned from risking their lives climbing the cliffs to collect the 21 coloured sands available in the bay, and to prevent excessive damage to the environment, but the sand kiosks have in the past been there to supply their needs.

Senegal - In the 1860s to 1890s Andrew Clemens a deaf mute born in Dubuque, Iowa, USA became famous for his craft of creating unfixed pictures using multicoloured sands compressed inside glass bottles or ornate chemist jars. The sand was collected from the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi. The subjects of his sand bottles included ornately decorated sentimental verses, sailing ships, plants, animals and portraits.

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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LawSinger

Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

Happy New Year! by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

Happy New Year! May this new year be filled with love, kindness, compassion & wisdom. May your life be full of wonders!

"Keep love in your heart. A life without it is like a sunless garden when the flowers are dead." - Oscar Wilde

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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LawSinger
Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

Singapore International Asia Sand Art Show Performance Painting Animation Lawrence Koh

Biography:

“I was amazed at your talent and just good you were with your performance.  It must have taken many hours of practice.” – Emeritus Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong to Sand Artist Lawrence Koh

Lawrence Koh – International sand art virtuoso and multi-disciplinary artist specialized in both the visual art and the performing art. Utilizing an awe-inspiring combination of sand, music and light, Lawrence has created countless stories as a sand artist during his local and international performances as well as prestigious events such as award ceremonies, official launch, grand opening, dinner & dance, festive celebrations, meetings, seminars and anniversary celebrations. Lawrence’s performance is often graced by foreign delegates, local VIPs and international guests; while also received positive responses from notable guests such as the Former President of Singapore Mr S.R Nathan, Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Emeritus Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong, Mr Teo Chee Hean, Minister Lee Yi Shyan, Minister Heng Swee Keat, Dr Ng Eng Hen, Mr Lawrence Wong, International Model Sonia Couling, Dr Chan Mei Yoke, MP Low Yen Ling and Film Director Eric Khoo.

Some of Lawrence’s  notable performances: MSH International Official Thailand Opening, Gourmet Abu Dhabi, Platts Top 250, Monetary Authority of Singapore Inter Central Bank Games, OCBC Regional Seminar, United Engineers 100 Years Anniversary, Shell Groundbreaking Ceremony, National University Health System Charity Gala Dinner at Gardens by the Bay, Lee Ming Wei’s Luminous Depths Installation Opening the Peranakan Museum, NTUC U Picnic, People’s Association’s New Year Countdown, Singapore Turf Club’s SIA Cup, BCA Awards, Institute of Mental Health 85th Anniversary, Kajima 25th Anniversary, Zurich Global Life Awards, BCI Asia Awards, Daido (Japan) 110th Anniversary Commendation Ceremony and many more.

Some of Lawrence’s previous clients: Mandarin Oriental, KFC, Pizza Hut, Panasonic, Singapore Armed Forces, National Heritage Board, Singapore College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Arts Council, Lian Beng Group Ltd, 7 Eleven, Abbott, Daikin, Melchers, Singex, National Library Board Singapore, Singapore Expo, Bosch, Ministry of Education, Sentosa, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, GlaxoSmithKline, National Healthcare Group, Sonangol, Mediacorp.
Being a celebrated artist in Singapore’s entertainment and art scene, Lawrence’s career spans across theatre productions, cultural fusion performances, short films, corporate videos, television programmes, television commercials, documentaries and live concerts. Lawrence was given the honour to have a special collaboration with the renowned Bhaskar’s Arts Academy during their major theatre production “CHAKRA”, featuring a captivating fusion of Indian dance, ballet, live Indian orchestra and sand art. The performance was graced by the presence of former president Mr. S.R Nathan and the tickets sold out completely; receiving standing ovation from the audience. Under National Arts Council’s request and support, “CHAKRA” was restaged once again at the Toa Payoh Amphitheatre with Lawrence being part of the National Arts Council’s “Arts for All” programme. Lawrence’s collaboration journey with Bhaskar’s Arts Academy also includes “Nalanda” a multi-disciplinary theatre production at the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay and “Ramayana” during the Diwali Festival of Lights Performance in Wellington, New Zealand.

Lawrence captivated the audience once again with veteran storyteller Kamini Ramachandran and live fusion musicians (keyboardist Serene, bansuri flutist Ragha and table player Kumaran) during two sold out performances of “Forest Fables” – a multi-disciplinary English theatre production presented by Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. Under the invitation from Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, Lawrence performed his very own live concerts with the amazing “Tze N Looking Glass Orchestra” with talented string ensemble from ACS Independent during “Celebrate December 2013”.  The performance was extremely well-received with full house for all three shows. With great excitement, Lawrence was given the honour to collaborate with the Singapore Philharmonic Winds Orchestra during the sold out concert – “Fun with Music” at the Esplanade Concert Hall as a guest soloist performing Eric Whitacre’s “Cloudburst”. Amidst his sand art journey, Lawrence and his sand art has received numerous article features and write-ups on Straits Times, Lian He Zao Bao, Business Times, AsiaOne.com, 8 Days Magazine and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery’s “Awaken Magazine”.

Lawrence and his sand art were also featured extensively on Singapore’s television programmes. He was featured as a guest artist on Mediacorp Okto channel’s “Art Bites” and “Arts.Music.Performances”; in which he performed his original sand art with DJ Shawn Fluctuate. Subsequently, Lawrence’s sand art also caught the attention of Mediacorp’s “Artless Travelled Season 2” – an award winning international documentary about the lesser seen art forms of Asia, with Lawrence and his performances being featured on the show as one of Singapore’s unique art forms. Other television involvements of Lawrence includes the McDonald’s Wholegrain McMuffin television commercial, Starhub E-City’s television commercials as well as Mediacorp Channel 5 and Suria Channel’s “Remembering SARS” – a telemovie that featured Lawrence’s sand art portraying the stories of Singapore’s battle against SARS.

With great privilege, Lawrence’s original sand animation tribute film to Singapore was featured on Vasantham Central’s Tamil News, Channel NewsAsia’s official Facebook page, as well as Channel NewsAsia’s “Singapore @ 6” and “Singapore Tonight”. On top of that, Lawrence was also invited to be the guest artist on Channel NewsAsia’s “AM Live!” and “Artyfacts”. He is also honored to be invited to perform on Mediacorp Suria Channel’s “Fiesta Muzik” – a prestigious live telecast music concert featuring popular artists from Singapore and Indonesia. Mr Aubeck Kam, Singapore’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI) and Dr Basuki Yusuf Iskandar, Indonesia’s Secretary-General of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, attended “Fiesta Muzik” as the Guests-of-Honour. “Fiesta Muzik” was broadcasted as a live telecast on Singapore and Indonesia’s TV channels with Lawrence’s performance receiving excellent responses.

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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LawSinger
Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

Buddhism Sand Art Film - "The Enlightened Deeds of a Great Bodhisattva" by Sand Artist Lawrence Koh

A Sand Art Tribute to His Eminence Garchen Rinpoche, one of the most extraordinary teacher from Tibet with an awe-inspiring spiritual journey & a life for the benefit of all beings...

This short film is also made to promote the new building funds of Drigar Thubten Dargye Ling! Support if you can! Big thanks to you in advance!

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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LawSinger
Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

Sands of Our Fathers – SG50 Sand Animation Film by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

SG50’s Sand Animation Short Film – “Sands of Our Fathers” [Proudly Supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)]:

A unique hybrid of dance, music, sand animation & special effects; this is a SG50 tribute short film!
Synopsis:...

Sand as white as snow, signifying the purity & youth of our homeland...
With blood, sweat & tear, a man crafted a future where peace & prosperity prevails...
An ethereal story of fear, hopes & dreams told through the elegance of a young dreamer in a land we called home...
A timeless journey of our founding father’s inconceivable effort & dedication; whose vision transforms this tiny island into a land of possibilities…
A land called “Singapore".

 

Love by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

[A Love Story Tribute by Sand Artist Lawrence Koh]
"Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." - Mother Teresa
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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt
Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

"Time" - by Sand Artist Lawrence Koh

"My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time." - Steve Jobs

“Ganesha” – Cultural Sharing Through Sand Art by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

 

 

[Sand Art - "Ganesha, The Obstacle Remover" by Sand Artist Lawrence]

Cultural Sharing Through Sand Art:

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! Ganesha Chaturthi is the Hindu festival celebrated in honour of the god Ganesha, the elephant-headed.

The Story of Lord Ganesha:

Let us enjoy reading this Hindu Mythological Story of The Story of Lord Ganesha.

One day, Goddess Parvathi, the wife of Lord Shiva, was getting ready for her bath and needed someone to guard her chamber.

Therefore she made a beautiful, young boy from the sandalwood from her body. She gave him life by sprinkling the Holy Ganges water on him and entrusted him with guarding the door.

While she was away, Lord Shiva returned and was surprised to find a little boy standing at the entrance to his wife’s chamber. When he tried to enter, the boy blocked his path.

“Who are you and why are you blocking my path?” demanded Lord Shiva.

“No one enters my mother’s chamber”, declared the boy boldly.

Taken aback, Lord Shiva replied, “Step away; I have the right to enter my wife’s chamber.”
But the young and courageous boy did not move but stood his ground.

Not knowing that this was his own son, Lord Shiva who was quick to anger grew enraged. Not used to be disobeyed he cut off the boy’s head.

Goddess Parvathi on returning from her bath saw her son lying dead and was overcome with grief. She was filled with both anger and sorrow.

Seeing this Lord Shiva sent his soldiers to fetch the head of the first beast that they saw. The men rushed and finally came upon an elephant. They immediately took the head to Lord Shiva, who quickly attached it onto the body of the slain boy and gave him life once again.

To further appease his grief-stricken wife he promised that her son would be worshipped first, before all other Gods.

Even today at the entrance of all temples one would find the idol of the elephant-headed God, Lord Ganesha!

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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt
Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

About Sand Animation - Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” - Pablo Picasso

About Sand animation:

Sand animation, also known as sand art, is a term which has two meanings. It is the name given to a style of live performance art and to a type of animation. In the former, an artist creates a series of images using sand, a process which is achieved by applying sand to a surface and then rendering images by drawing lines and figures in the sand with one's hands. A sand animation performer will often use the aid of an overhead projector or lightbox (similar to one used by photographers to view translucent films). In the latter, animators move around sand on a backlighted or frontlighted piece of glass to create each frame for their animated films.

The technique was invented in 1968 by Caroline Leaf, who made her first film, Sand, or Peter and the Wolf, Harvard University. The short was made by dumping sand on a light box and manipulating the textures frame-by-frame.

SG50 Sand Animation Short Film by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

 

SG50’s Multi-Disciplinary Short Film (proudly supported by MCCY) – “Sands of Our Fathers”:

With the combined “magic” of Erik Goh (director), Glen Tiaw (producer), Lawrence Koh (sand artist), Lisha Chin (dancer), Tze Toh (composer), musicians Lazar T.Sebastine & Teo Boon Chye, special effect team & a team of truly amazing crews; comes this multi-disciplinary short film made by Singapore’s very own talents.

A unique hybrid of dance, music, sand animation & special effects; this is a SG50 tribute short film never seen before!

Synopsis:
Sand as white as snow, signifying the purity & youth of our homeland…
With blood, sweat & tear, a man crafted a future where peace & prosperity prevails…
An ethereal story of fear, hopes & dreams told through the elegance of a young dreamer in a land we called home…
A timeless journey of our founding father’s inconceivable effort & dedication; whose vision transforms this tiny island into a land of possibilities…
A land called “Singapore”.

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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt
Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

Wealth - Sand Artist Lawrence Koh

"A kind man who makes good use of wealth is rightly said to possess a great treasure but the miser who hoards up his riches will have no profit." - Guatama Buddha

Happy National Day! Epic SG50 Sand Art Tribute by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

Dear friends,

After sacrificing my sleep day after day (by sleeping around 7am or 8am…), I’m very very proud to share with you my most detailed and strenuous sand animation art film to date; portraying more than 20 scenes in this very film using sand.

Since I was small all the way till today, my dearest grandma would often share with me the stories and facts of her past. Which can be funny, sad and nostalgic. To me, her precious sharings are not just like a time travelling machine that brings me back into her past; but also a glimpse of her life as a homegrown SINGAPOREAN.

Many people asked me, why a tribute to Singapore all of a sudden? Is it because of national day? – No. National day is not the only day in which I recognize myself as a Singaporean; and in this case a Singaporean artist. This sand animation art tribute to Singapore was made with this dream of being able to portray all the beautiful treasures of Singapore for the whole world to enjoy through my imagination, vision and art. This sand animation art film did not exactly portray the stories that my grandma shared with me; but instead, it portrays what it feels like to take a little moment to stop for awhile and listen to the stories of the older generation as their words trigger thoughts of nostalgia, inspiration and timeless wonders…

I sincerely hope that this sand animation art film can be something that touches your heart (be it whether you are a Singaporean or not). And most importantly, a reminder for you to open your heart and embrace the wonderful stories from the older generation. Who knows? You might just discover some real hidden treasures that could change your life forever!

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Official Site: https://sanddreamer.wordpress.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSandArt
Blog: http://singaporesandart.blogspot.sg/

Happy Birthday Singapore! by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

 

WE LOVE SINGAPORE!!!!!! Thank you everyone for joining us at the Esplanade’s SG50 National Day 2015 Celebration!!! It was such a wonderful & epic experience performing with the magnificent fusion music group “NEN” during our original show “Vision of the Prince”!

"In the end it is nothing other than the loving kindness with which the woman cares for her child that makes the difference. Her concern concentrates on one thing just like the Buddhist practice of concentration. She thinks of nothing but her child, which is similar to Buddhist compassion. That must be why, although she created no other causes to bring about it, she was reborn in the Brahma heaven." - Buddha

Sand Art - "I Got Da Blues" by Sand Artist Lawrence Koh

 "The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to let anybody see him, but you loved him. You just didn't know how other people would take it." - B.B.King

Uncertainty by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

“Ardently do today what must be done. Who knows? Tomorrow, death comes.”

Sand Painting Sharing By Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

Sandpainting is the art of pouring colored sands, powdered pigments from minerals or crystals, and pigments from other natural or synthetic sources onto a surface to make a fixed, or unfixed sand painting. Unfixed sand paintings have a long established cultural history in numerous social groupings around the globe, and are often temporary, ritual paintings prepared for religious or healing ceremonies. It is also referred to as drypainting.

Drypainting is practiced by Native Americans in the Southwestern United States, by Tibetan and Buddhist monks, as well as Australian Aborigines, and also by Latin Americans on certain Christian holy days.

In the sandpainting of southwestern Native Americans (the most famous of which are the Navajo (known as the Diné)), the Medicine Man (or Hatałii) paints loosely upon the ground of a hogan, where the ceremony takes place, or on abuckskin or cloth tarpaulin, by letting the coloured sands flow through his fingers with control and skill. There are 600 to 1,000 different traditional designs for sandpaintings known to the Navajo. They do not view the paintings as static objects, but as spiritual, living beings to be treated with great respect. More than 30 different sandpaintings may be associated with one ceremony.

The colors for the painting are usually accomplished with naturally coloured sand, crushed gypsum (white), yellow ochre, red sandstone, charcoal and a mixture of charcoal and gypsum (blue). Brown can be made by mixing red and black; red and white make pink. Other colouring agents include corn meal, flower pollen, or powdered roots and bark.

The paintings are for healing purposes only. Many of them contain images ofYeibicheii (the Holy People). While creating the painting, the medicine man willchant, asking the yeibicheii to come into the painting and help heal the patient.

When the medicine man finishes painting, he checks its accuracy. The order and symmetry of the painting symbolize the harmony which a patient wishes to reestablish in his or her life. The accuracy of a sandpainting is believed to determine its efficacy as a sacred tool. The patient will be asked to sit on the sandpainting as the medicine man proceeds with the healing chant. It is claimed the sandpainting acts as a portal to attract the spirits and allow them to come and go. Practitioners believe sitting on the sandpainting helps the patient to absorb spiritual power, while in turn the Holy People will absorb the illness and take it away. Afterward, when the sandpainting has done its duty, it is considered to be toxic, since it has absorbed the illness. For this reason, the painting is destroyed. Because of the sacred nature of the ceremonies, the sandpaintings are begun, finished, used and destroyed within 12 hours.

Sand Art by Singapore Sand Artist Lawrence

From Wikipedia:

Sand animation, also known as sand art, is a term which has two meanings. It is the name given to a style of live performance art and to a type of animation. In the former, an artist creates a series of images using sand, a process which is achieved by applying sand to a surface and then rendering images by drawing lines and figures in the sand with one’s hands. A sand animation performer will often use the aid of an overhead projector or lightbox (similar to one used by photographers to view translucent films). In the latter, animators move around sand on a backlighted or frontlighted piece of glass to create each frame for their animated films.