Style
The work of PHUNK is greatly influenced by popular culture and its ever-evolving series of metaphors, codes and iconography. Having grown up in the ‘70s and ‘80s, its members are inspired by Hong Kong's ''kungfu'' movies and Cantonese TV series, Japanese '' anime'' and ''History
1992–1994: the early years
The members of PHUNK met as design students at LASALLE College of the Arts, where they studied Visual Communications. They had initially thought of starting a band while in college, but decided to found an art collective to further their shared interest in visual art. After graduating in 1994, they started PHUNK as a streetwear label. While the business endeavour did not take off, the name PHUNK remained.1995–1997: experimentation, Guerilla Fonts
Between 1995 and 1997, the artists served a two-year period of mandatory National Service with the Singapore Armed Forces. They spent their weekends creating visual works and experimenting with various modes of artistic expression. Eventually, they began to produce visuals and graphics which they sent out to friends and family. This led to their founding of type foundr1998–1999: Trigger Magazine, MTV Asia
In 1998, Garage Fonts began distributing Guerilla Fonts' typeface designs worldwide. PHUNK was invited to write the introduction to the book ''New Typographics 2'', published by Japanese publisherEarly 2000s: global recognition, publishing
The early 2000s saw PHUNK gain recognition regionally and globally. Their artwork featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions, including the retrospective showcase ''A Decade of Decadence'', which was held at the Singapore History Museum to commemorate their 10th anniversary. In 2004, they were selected to represent Singapore at the ''Place'' project, which opened at the Museu Valencia de la Il.lustració i La Modernitat, in València, Spain. The following year, PHUNK exhibited as part of the Gwangju Design Biennale, and subsequently presented at London Design Festival 2006 as part of ''20/20 Singapore Design Movement''. The collective also furthered their foray into publishing with the launch of two books during this period: ''Transmission 02: Utopia'' and ''Mono Number One: Phunk Studio''.2007–2008: solo exhibitions, President's Design Award, TRANSMISSION
In 2007, PHUNK was selected to exhibit at the ''Young Talents'' show in Art Cologne, where they were nominated for Best of Show. They launched several solo exhibitions, including ''Universality'', which opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art Taipei; ''Universe'', at Art Seasons in Singapore; and ''Universe II'', at the Gallery J. Chen in Taipei. PHUNK was also appointed as artists for the Circle Line Art Project by the2009–2010: international collaborations, public art
2011–2012: PHUNK, The Rolling Stones
2011 ushered in a new era for the collective after a fire destroyed all of the work in their studio, following which they officially became known as PHUNK. They went on to launch a site-specific media pole installation in Seoul, and design a series of FRANK credit cards with OCBC Bank in Singapore. Other notable achievements during the period include a collaboration with legendary rock band The Rolling Stones on a series of band merchandise, and presenting their solo exhibition ''Empire of Dreams'' at various venues around the world: Art Seasons in Singapore, ''Future Pass – From Asia to the World'' at the 54th Venice Biennale, the Wereldmuseum Rotterdam, the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Gallery J. Chen in Taipei, ''Singapore Show: Future Proof'' and ''Panorama: Recent Art from Contemporary Asia'', both at the Singapore Art Museum.2013–present: global expansion, multimedia collaborations
In 2013, PHUNK launched a site-specific installation for Deutsche Bank in Singapore as part of OH! Open House Festival. They designed a series of rugs with luxury carpet makers Tai Ping, and were part of the exhibition ''Welcome to the Jungle'' at the Yokohama Museum of Art. 2014 saw the collective collaborate with HBO Asia on an art exhibition to launch the third season of TV seriesSelected works
Notable works by PHUNK include:Collaborations
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
* PHUNK, Owen James Gallery, New York (2016) * A TO Z: For Children of All Ages, Art Seasons, Singapore (2015) * Empire of Dreams II, Art Seasons, Singapore (2013) * Empire of Dreams I, Gallery J. Chen, Taipei (2012) * Daydream Nation, Project Stage, ART STAGE, Singapore (2011) * Welcome to Electricity!, Diesel Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (2010) * Around The World / Across The Universe, Vallery, Barcelona, Spain (2009) * New World, Art Seasons, Singapore (2009) * New World, Art Seasons, Beijing, China (2008) * KIAF Korea International Art Fair 2008, Seoul, Korea (2008) * Levi's Art Session 3, Levi's Flagship store, Paris, France (2008) * Universe II, Gallery J. Chen, Taipei, Taiwan (2008) * Universe I, Art Seasons, Singapore (2007) * Universality, Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipei, Taiwan (2007) * Decade of Decadence, Singapore History Museum, Singapore (2005) * Baroqracy, Pixie Gallery, Taipei (2005) * Baroqracy II, Tuami, Ecuador (2005) * Split, Nike Spiritroom, Berlin (2005) * The Synthetics “Live”, Comme des Garçon Guerrilla Store +65, Singapore (2004) * Control Chaos IV, OFFF, Valencia (2004) * Control Chaos III, Our Spot Gallery, Sydney, Australia (2004) * Control Chaos II, :b Gallery, Singapore (2003) * Control Chaos, The Reed Space, New York (2003)Group exhibitions
* ART STAGE, Art Seasons, Singapore (2018) * The Artling Pop-Up, Artspace @ Helutrans, Singapore (2017) * Fiction of Precision, Art Galleries Association Singapore, Millenia Walk, Singapore (2017) * Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Singapore (2017) * Art on Paper, Pier 36 NYC, New York (2017) * ART STAGE, Singapore (2017) * Highlight, Design Koishikawa, Japan (2016) * Supermama Porcelain Festival, Gillman Barracks, Singapore (2016) * ART STAGE, Art Seasons, Singapore (2016) * Art Central, Hong Kong (2015) * Cappellini Capsule Project, DREAM, Singapore (2015) * Singapore: Inside Out, Beijing, London, New York, Singapore (2015) * 50 Years of Singapore Design, National Design Centre, Singapore (2015) * H for House, Art in Your Neighborhood, Singapore (2015) * ART STAGE, Art Seasons, Singapore (2015) * Fukuoka Art Triennale 2014, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan (2014) * Modern Love: LASALLE 30th Anniversary exhibition, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore (2014) * Daydreams + Nightmares, The Substation, Singapore (2014) * Art Toilet, Fukuoka Parco, Japan (2014) * New Icon: Pop in Asia, Komunitas Salihara, Jakarta, Indonesia (2014) * Singapore Pop-Up Show, Art Seasons, Singapore (2014) * Korea International Art Fair, Art Seasons, Seoul, Korea (2014) * ART STAGE, Art Seasons, Singapore (2014) * Welcome to the Jungle, Yokohama Museum of Art, Japan (2013) * Welcome to the Jungle, Contemporary Art Museum, Kumamoto, Japan (2013) * HBO Game of Thrones Art Exhibition, The Luxe Art Museum, Singapore (2013) * OH! Open House, Marina Bay, Singapore (2013) * Beirut Art Fair, Beirut, Lebanon (2013) * Panos, Lyon, France (2013) * ART STAGE, Art Seasons, Singapore (2013) * Singapore Show: Future Proof 2012, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (2012) * Panorama: Recent Art from Contemporary Asia, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (2012) * Future Pass – From Asia to the World, National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art, Taiwan (2012) * The Book Show, Sculpture Square, Singapore (2012) * ART STAGE, Art Seasons, Singapore (2012) * A Little Light Magic, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (2011) * New Pop New World, Element Art Space, Singapore (2011) * Future Pass – From Asia to the World, 54th Venice Biennale, Italy (2011) * Unshakeable – Aid to Japan, Light Editions Gallery, Singapore (2011) * Future Pass – From Asia to the World, Wereldmuseum, Rotterdam, Netherlands (2011) * Design Possible, Kaohsiung Design Festival, Taiwan (2010) * Campaign City, Evil Empire, Singapore (2010) * Very Fun Park 2010, Taipei Public Art Festival, Taiwan (2010) * You West I East, Shenzhen Fine Art Museum, China (2010) * Animamix Biennial 2009–10, Metaphors of Un/Real, MoCA Shanghai, China (2010) * OH! Open House, Singapore (2009) * P.S. I Silk You, Hermès, Singapore (2009) * ARTSingapore, Singapore (2009) * Self-Portraits, CircleCulture Gallery, Berlin, Germany (2009) * Beyond Comfort, Art Seasons Lakeside Zurich, Switzerland (2009) * ArtHK Fair, Hong Kong (2009) * Art Fair Tokyo @ TOKIA, Tokyo, Japan (2009) * BMW Young Asian Artists Series II: The Singapore Edition, STPI, Singapore (2009) * Accessible Art Fair, New York, USA (2008) * No Comply 2008 Skateboard Art Exhibition, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne, Australia (2008) * Panos 2013, Lyon, France (2008) * ARTSingapore, Singapore (2008) * SHcontemporary, Shanghai, China (2008) * New Wave, Creative Centre of Communications, Shizuoka, Japan (2008) * 8Q-Rate: School, 8Q, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (2008) * Tokyo.Ten Exhibition, Claska Gallery, Tokyo, Japan (2008) * GDFB (Graphic Design Festival Breda), Netherlands (2008) * Dual City Sessions: Art With Sound, Berlin, Germany (2008) * Power of One Charity Exhibition, Hong Kong (2008) * Shizuoka Content Valley Festival, Creative Centre of Communications, Shizuoka, Japan (2008) * Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany (2007) * Animamix Biennale: From Modernity to Eternity, MoCA Shanghai, China (2007) * Today's Art Festival 2007, The Hague, Netherlands (2007) * Very Fun Park II, Taipei Public Art Festival, Taiwan (2007) * Celebrating 50 Years of Helvetica, Design Museum, London, UK (2007) * Young Talents, Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany (2007) * Massive Territory, Gallery National Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia (2007) * London Design Festival, London, UK (2006) * Tokyo Designer's Week, Tokyo, Japan (2006) * Nike Sum Of All Parts, Tokyo Designer's Week, Tokyo, Japan (2006) * Secret House, HITEC, Hong Kong (2006) * “untitled” – Documents Of Street Culture (travelling show), BBB, Barcelona, Spain; BBB, Berlin, Germany (2006) * 20/20 Singapore Design Movement, London Design Festival, London, UK (2006) * Gwangju Design Biennale,Gwangju, Korea (2005) * Get it Louder, Shanghai, China (2005) * Street Life, Agnès B., Singapore (2004) * Place, Museu Valencia de la Il.lustració i La Modernitat, València, Spain (2004) * Pictoplasma “Characters at War!”, Zentralbuero, Berlin (2004) * Fascination, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore (2002) * Made In Singapore, Art Seasons, Singapore (2002) * We Love Utopia, Magma Gallery, London, UK (2002)Joint exhibitions
* :phunkTanaaMIX, Art Seasons, Singapore (2010) * Eccentric City: Rise and Fall, Institute of Contemporary Art, Singapore (2010)Public collection
* Singapore Art Museum, Singapore *UNEEC Culture and Education Foundation, TaiwanPublic art
* DREAM, Bench Project, URA, Singapore (2014) * Dreams In Social Cosmic Odyssey, Promenade MRT Station, Land Transport Authority, Singapore (2010)Corporate commission
* Rolls-Royce and Singapore Airlines: 20th anniversary celebrationsPublications
*''Around The World Across The Universe: PHUNK'', Art Seasons (2009) *''Universality: Phunk Studio'', Page One (2007) *''Mono Number One: Phunk Studio'', Rebel One (2004) *''Transmission 02: Utopia'', Phunk Studio (2001)Gallery
References
External links