‘Utopias’ (2011) was a solo exhibition produced and funded by the British Council–Singapore International Foundation (SIF) Artist-in-Residence Exchange Programme (AiRx). Focusing on how landscape is cultivated and subverted by cultural and fringe groups within Singapore, Matthews’s research drew upon current architectural and horticultural manifestations both inside and outside the city. As the inaugural British Council artist-in-residence in Singapore, Matthews was the first contemporary British artist to take up this residency.
Working directly from found materials and photographs, Matthews created appositional works that illustrated perspectives of the city and the jungle through digital drawings, videos, constructions, watercolours and relief prints. The project developed into a greater consideration of the relationship between the rapid growth of architecture and jungle, their coexistence, and expansive threshold.
Aiming to bridge communities in Singapore and the UK through the exchange of ideas, AiRx paired Matthews with Singaporean artist Michael Lee to engage in dialogue and a collaborative work; their close exchange resulted in a series of lithographs titled The Great Levellers, which link their two solo exhibitions at the National Museum of Singapore. Their collaboration was further elaborated through a catalogue publication, Utopias: A Collaboration, published by the British Council/SIF (2011).
‘Utopias’ was also shown in London at Asia House (2012). Subsequent exhibitions resulting from this project included the solo exhibition ‘Another Circle Round The Sun’, Herbert Read Gallery, Canterbury (2012), and four exhibitions with Michael Lee: ‘Habit-Forming’, Art Informal, Vargas Museum, Philippines (2012); ‘Edited Utopias’, Art Stage Singapore, ‘Abject Systems’, Goodman Arts Center, Singapore (2011), and ‘Accidental Purpose’, Quad Gallery, Derby, UK (2012).
Matthews gave a related lecture at the Singapore Tyler Print Institute (STPI, 2011) and a gallery talk at the National Museum of Singapore (2011). Artworks from this project were acquired by: STPI, The Singapore International Foundation, and British Council, Singapore.