Events
School of Arts, Science and Technology Students Explore Contemporary Art at STPI
Students and lecturers from the School of Arts, Science and Technology outside STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery on 9 October 2026
Nanyang Institute of Management (NIM) brought 10 students from the School of Arts, Science and Technology (SAST) on a learning journey to STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery (STPI) on 9 October 2026. Students explored Strange Monster, an exhibition by Indonesian contemporary artist Eko Nugroho, and gained first-hand insight into how professional artists develop ideas and turn them into finished work.
SAST lecturers speak with students on the way to the gallery
A Distinctive Visual Language
Eko Nugroho is known for bold, layered imagery that blends playful characters with sharp social observation. At STPI, his large black-and-white murals covered the gallery walls and ceiling, framing a series of vivid printed works.
Guided by their lecturers, students discussed how the artist uses recurring motifs, masked figures and strong contrast to communicate cultural identity, social commentary and personal perspectives. Through the artist’s distinctive visual language, students saw how contemporary art can carry meaning beyond its visual impact.
SAST lecturers guide students through the Strange Monster exhibition
From Concept to Print
The visit also introduced students to printmaking and paper-based art practices. Students learned about the relationship between artistic concepts, experimentation and technical production, and how an idea is tested and refined before it becomes a finished artwork.
Many students took time to study individual pieces up close, observing line, texture and composition. Understanding the process behind professional work helps students plan, test and refine their own creative projects with greater confidence.
Students study printed works up close and photograph an artwork wall at STPI
Learning Through the OPAL Values
The visit put NIM’s OPAL core values into practice:
Objectivity saw students observe and analyse artistic techniques, visual elements and themes from different perspectives.
Perseverance was reflected in the experimentation, skill and refinement students recognised in each artwork.
Ambition grew as students gained inspiration to explore new ideas, techniques and approaches in their own creative practice.
Learning came to life as students connected classroom knowledge with real-world contemporary art and printmaking practices.
Inspiration for Their Own Creative Work
The experience broadened students’ appreciation of contemporary art and encouraged them to draw inspiration from professional artistic practices as they develop their own creative work.
For SAST students, the visit was a reminder that strong creative work begins with curiosity, and that some of the most valuable lessons happen outside the classroom.