Ubisoft Singapore’s ‘Art in Video Games’ exhibition shows how art can push a game

‘Concepts inspire composition and break down assets that need building,’ one of the info cards in the gallery read. Looking at the various mood and concept pieces on display from Ubisoft Singapore, it was easy to see how.

Ubisoft Singapore’s ‘Art in video games’ exhibit at the FZD School of Design opened today. It is the first time Ubisoft has organized such an event, and it will run for just one more day, closing at 10:00 P.M. tomorrow, Saturday, November 9, 2013.

Ubisoft Singapore Managing Director Olivier de Rotalier said in his opening speech at ‘Art in videogames’ that the exhibition had been put up to show “the process behind building games”, and to “show how artists push and inspire their team to produce the best visuals.”

It takes a certain kind of person to appreciate an art gallery, but video game art only needs you to be a lover of video games. We’re glad to report that the exhibit is indeed worth a visit, especially if you’re a fan of Ghost Recon Online or Assassin’s Creed. The entire original storyboard for the Assassin’s Creed trailer shown at E3 this year is also on display. Don’t take pictures, though. They don’t want that.

What we really found interesting was how much Ghost Recon Online’s country of development had influenced its concept art.

The GRO concept piece titled ‘Attica’ was of a corporate building of an aircraft company in the ‘Attica Heights’ map. According to its little info card, it was inspired by the eco-friendly buildings in Singapore: Solaris and Fusionopolis, where Ubisoft Singapore is located. And this Singaporean writer can attest to the validity of that claim.

Another GRO concept piece called ‘Robitech’ was from the Xinyi District map, and was inspired by Biopolis in Singapore. And of course, no Singaporean could not recognize the piece titled ‘Chinatown’. It was a replica of our Chinatown through and through.

For the more artistically inclined, there will be two art master classes conducted by Ubisoft Singapore artists tomorrow at 3:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. Simply turn up to enjoy an hour’s lecture of videogame art!