Bringing Raden Saleh’s Art to Life: Exclusive Interview with ‘A Brush With Forest Fire’ Team
Published on October 22, 2024 | by DSGN arcHive
We sit down with the brilliant minds behind this award-winning project to explore their creative journey
How do you turn historical art into an adventure that sparks curiosity and creativity in children? A Brush With Forest Fire does exactly that, inviting young minds to step into the world of Raden Saleh. At its center is Saleh’s mesmerizing painting, Boschbrand (Forest Fire), completed in 1849. This artwork serves as a gateway to key artistic concepts, making it the perfect starting point for exploration. With a magical paintbrush and interactive digital activities, the experience brings history to life, making it feel vibrant, engaging, and easy to explore.
We caught up with the brilliant minds behind this project—Mr. Tan Lui Kun, Creative Lead (Multimedia) at Make Studios, alongside Mr. Ivan Yak and Mr. Dave Tai, Creative Leads at The Merry Men Works. They shared how they reimagined Raden Saleh’s legacy through a fusion of storytelling and technology. Their work has already turned heads, earning a Special Mention at the Singapore Good Design Awards 2024. Join us as we explore how this unique experience breathes new life into a timeless masterpiece, making it resonate with today’s young audiences.
A Brush With Forest Fire
1. Could you share the inspiration behind “A Brush With Forest Fire” and why Raden Saleh’s Boschbrand was chosen as the focal artwork for this project?
The inspiration behind “A Brush With Forest Fire” stemmed from the National Gallery team’s selection of Raden Saleh’s Boschbrand as the focal artwork. This masterpiece was chosen for its significance in the gallery’s collection, bridging Indonesian and Southeast Asian artistic traditions with European influences. We were inspired by the realisation that every painter, from historical icons like Raden Saleh to children, shares a common tool: the paintbrush. This revelation led us to explore the paintbrush as an experiential anchor for the project.
2. Engaging children with historical art can be challenging. What specific elements of Raden Saleh’s Boschbrand did you focus on to make the artwork more engaging and relatable for young audiences in modern-day Singapore?
To make Raden Saleh’s Boschbrand more engaging for young audiences in modern-day Singapore, we focused on the fundamental elements of art present in the painting. By breaking down the masterpiece into its basic components – lines, shapes, and colors – we created a more accessible entry point for children. Moreover, the painting’s dramatic scene of animals fleeing a forest fire resonates with contemporary discussions on sustainability and global warming, making it surprisingly relevant to today’s context.
3. Raden Saleh acts as a mentor throughout the experience. How was his character and artistic journey adapted to guide children in their own creative process?
We adapted Raden Saleh’s character and artistic journey to guide children through their creative process by framing him as a mentor figure. This approach allowed us to present Raden Saleh in the first person, creating a more relatable tone of voice for young audiences. Drawing inspiration from a historical photograph, we crafted a child-friendly illustration of Saleh, which appears as an animation at the first interaction point. Here, he introduces children to their magic paintbrush, setting the stage for their artistic adventure. Throughout the experience, Raden Saleh serves as a recurring guide, appearing whenever there’s a key learning point or takeaway to be shared.
4. The magical paintbrush is a key interactive tool in A Brush With Forest Fire. How does it specifically engage children with the artwork and help them understand key art principles through hands-on interaction?
The magical paintbrush serves as a key interactive tool in “A Brush With Forest Fire,” engaging children directly with various art principles. This digital device allows young participants to draw, trace, alter the mood of landscapes, and even mix colors virtually. By providing these hands-on interactions, the paintbrush creates a tangible way for children to experience and understand art concepts within a digital interactive space.
5. Creating their own masterpieces is part of the experience. What kind of creative journey do the children go through, and how does this foster a deeper connection to historical art?
The creative journey culminates in children creating their own masterpieces, fostering a deeper connection to historical art. This final segment allows them to apply everything they’ve learned and collected along the way on a digital canvas. By reinterpreting elements from Boschbrand and infusing them with their personal style, children experience the thrill of the creative process and see their works exhibited on a gallery wall. This approach enables them to engage with historical art in a personal and meaningful way.
6. How do you envision projects like “A Brush With Forest Fire” evolving to continue engaging children with art and history in creative ways?
We envision projects like “A Brush With Forest Fire” evolving to further engage children with art and history through an increasingly seamless integration of digital technology and physical space. The future of such projects lies in creating ‘phygital’ experiences where the underlying technology becomes almost invisible, weaving digital elements into tactile activities like drawing and painting. Through this approach we are able to spark curiosity about historical subjects that children might not inherently find interesting.
7. Which features of A Brush With Forest Fire have children responded to most enthusiastically, and how do these elements enhance their overall engagement with the artwork?
Children have responded most enthusiastically to the Colour Well feature and the masterpiece creation station.
The Colour Well captivates young users as they dip their brushes into different colored paint tins, causing corresponding elements in the forest to light up. This immersive experience often evokes a sense of wonder, especially when multiple children mix colors together.
The masterpiece creation station, where children apply the tools and elements they’ve gathered to create Boschbrand-inspired artwork, has also been highly popular. These stations resonate with children because they encourage play, self-expression, and direct engagement with the artwork’s elements, enhancing their overall connection to the experience.
A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Tan Lui Kun, Mr. Ivan Yak, and Mr. Dave Tai for sharing their invaluable insights into this incredible project. If you haven’t yet experienced A Brush With Fire, what are you waiting for? Head over to the Keppel Centre for Art Education at the Singapore National Gallery to immerse it yourself in this captivating exhibition!
If you’re a designer with a standout project ready to make its mark, now’s your chance! Enter the SG Good Design Awards and let your work shine in the spotlight—click the link to find out more!
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