Discussions about Singapore’s place in the world usually begin with neighboring Southeast Asia and end with the former colony and wider Asian region. Refreshingly, the 2024 edition of Singapore Art Week (SAW) sees two major exhibitions thoughtfully consider the conversations and similarities between Singapore, Southeast Asia and the Global South.
At the National Gallery of Singapore (NGS), tropical Delving into the contemporary history of Southeast Asia and Latin America, we challenge their shared colonial narratives.These areas are claimed in a 1977 text by Syed Hussein Alatas The myth of the lazy native, contains much more than bananas and parrots. Seven years in the making, the exhibition brings together approximately 200 works by more than 70 artists. There are many threads intertwined in this work, including the use of textiles and embroidery, and similarities with Indonesian anti-colonial modernism and Diego Rivera’s pronouncements on class.with tropicalNGS is currently running the second of its series on early regional video art. See Me See You (until February 4th).
Regarding the relationship between Africa and Southeast Asia, Translation: Poetics of Africa and Asia (January 18th to 30th). The event, held at multiple venues in the Gilman Barracks Gallery Hub, is hosted by Zoe Whitley and his curator Clara Che Wei Pe, at the invitation of the Institute, a local curatorial non-profit. In this show, more than 100 of her artists from both continents consider interconnected stories of identity, migration, and diaspora.
The two exhibitions provide a strong conceptual framework for the particularly lively 12th SAW, centered around the flagship trade fair Art SG (January 18-21). This year’s SAW will feature a record number of over 150 events and exhibitions. SEA Focus (January 20-28), a small boutique regional fair that began in 2019, will also be held again this year, offering a carefully selected showcase of regional artists. , 22 galleries brought in, including FX Harsono and Yee I-Lann.
SEA Focus will once again be held at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, a transportation facility turned art venue. Tanjong Pagar Distri Park is also the temporary venue for the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), as reconstruction of the historic downtown venue continues. SAM welcomes back local multimedia star Ho Tsenyuan this year with mid-career survey Time and the Tiger (until March 2, 2024). Nearby Gajah Gallery is hosting an exhibition on colonial body language in Southeast Asia (until February 24).
Singapore has been in the news for attracting wealthy immigrants from Hong Kong and mainland China, and this year many dealers, curators, collectors and media from Greater China visited Singapore for the first time or for the first time in years to explore. It is carried out. Buzz. On January 16, Beijing collector Li Fan (also known as Li Fan) opened a new private facility in Singapore, the Whale Museum, which currently displays works by Huang Yuxing and Ouyang Chun.
Several independent artist-run spaces have also been established in recent years, including Comma Space, which is continuing its series of symposiums on art and sustainability on January 19th and 21st.Angie Shea’s solo project your own room Starch will run until February 8th.
Gilman Barracks is bringing back its popular Art After Dark, which will be open until late on January 20th and 27th. Richard Koh Fine Art is therefore presenting a political solo exhibition by Myanmar dissident artist Tien Lin. reincarnation (until January 27) reflects on his recent time as a political prisoner after opposing his country’s military regime.
Gallery Yo Workshop is exhibiting new paintings by Filippo Sciascia (until February 11). Founder Audrey Yeo is currently the chairperson of the Singapore Art Gallery Association and is working to strengthen SAW’s collaboration and learn from other art weeks across Asia. With collaborations with organizations such as Valentino, Soho House, Yen & Alan’s Law Foundation, and Mandala Club, “there’s great work being done across the city,” says Yeoh. “Singapore’s geographical location and political stability mean that Singapore is always a magnet for an interesting mix of high-quality expatriates who are keen and enthusiastic about cultural exchange and interaction. , I’m impressed with the growth of the collector’s scene here.”