Study of Three Thermos Flasks

Faizal Fadil's Study of Three Thermos Flasks consists of a row of three metal flasks. The lid of the first flask is closed. The lid of the flask in the middle is open, and the last flask has no lid. The flasks were bought second-hand from “Thieves Market”, a well-known flea market along Sungei Road in Singapore. The presentation of these flasks appear quite formal yet their appearance is at odds with the academic-sounding title. They are presented in their original state, with slight rust stains, dents and all. The artist did not alter or intervene with their appearance in any way. The work is a well-known example of a Singapore artist defining art in the local context in a way that broke new ground. It was developed during a two-week Sculpture Seminar initiated by fellow artist Tang Da Wu at the National Museum Art Gallery. It was during the seminar that Faizal first learned about Marcel Duchamp and Duchamp’s ready-made art. At the time, the work sparked debates in Singapore and across the region concerning traditional ideas of sculpture. Questions were raised about the role of the artist and the difference between artworks and non-art objects.