Prepare to delve into the year’s art extravaganza as Singapore Art Week (SAW) returns from Jan 19 to 28. Elevating Singapore’s cultural landscape, this premier visual arts season promises to captivate with over 150 art exhibitions and programmes featuring the works of more than 400 artists, curators and collaborators from both Singapore and around the globe.
Crafted by the National Arts Council (NAC) and backed by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), SAW 2024 invites all art enthusiasts, collectors and the curious to witness the best of Singapore and Southeast Asian art. Imagine a lively tapestry of creativity woven by various talents excited to share their unique perspectives.
Delve into a diverse array of art experiences at SAW 2024, featuring avant-garde displays by Singaporean artists citywide, alongside world-class exhibitions and special events with renowned international artists. If you are an art collector or industry professional, SAW 2024 provides a prime chance to discuss the latest global art trends and developments.
Experience the captivating fusion of art and science in Boedi Widjaja’s Immortal Words, an exhibition at the Black Box. Collaborating with geneticist associate professor Eric Yap, Widjaja brings to life the intricate connections between artistic expression and scientific innovation. Explore a world where oral and written traditions from Southeast Asian languages and beyond are encoded in DNA, with vials of DNA-encoded ink dispensed through gachapon machines, inviting you to take a piece of this unique experience home.
Delve into the vibrant Singaporean art scene during open studio sessions where established artists showcase their latest works. Get exclusive access to visionaries who’ve shaped Singapore’s visual art history, including modern artist Teo Eng Seng and poet-calligrapher Tan Swie Hian.
Meanwhile, the marquee event, Light to Night Singapore 2024, transforms the Civic District with over 60 immersive projections, art installations and engaging events centred around the theme “Reimagine”. Held from Jan 19 to Feb 8 and organised by National Gallery Singapore, the festival illuminates the precinct with works by veteran and budding Southeast Asian artists, including Singapore’s Lee Wen and Teo Eng Seng and Indonesia’s Arahmaiani, that take on unconventional forms and presentation to challenge perceptions of art.
You could also journey through time and culture at the blockbuster exhibition Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America. Witness over 200 artworks and 70 artists challenging conventions and fostering solidarities, including Malaysian modernist painter, sculptor and poet Latiff Mohidin and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
At the Singapore Art Museum, catch the first mid-career survey exhibition of Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger. This showcase spans two decades, featuring paintings, films, theatrical performances and video installations, offering a profound reflection on the embodied experiences of time.
See also: Masterpiece moments: Gilles Dyan discusses Opera Gallery's past, present and future
Explore private collections through exhibitions like The Pierre Lorinet Collection and a group exhibition by The Private Museum featuring pioneers like the late performance artist Lee Wen and contemporary mixed-media visual artist Vincent Leow.
NAC is partnering with the VH AWARD by Hyundai Motor Group to bring the 5th VH AWARD exhibition to Singapore. Explore the creations of emerging media artists from Asia, pushing the boundaries of art and technology.
At Gillman Barracks, immerse yourself in Translations: Afro-Asian Poetics, selected by Dr. Zoé Whitley. This exhibition explores works from private collections of modern and contemporary artists from the African and Asian diasporas, featuring displays by Sonia Boyce, Tuan Andrew Nguyen and Do Ho Suh.
The 10th edition of the public arts festival, ARTWALK, will return to the streets of Little India and Katong-Joo Chiat. Organised by LASALLE College of the Arts, the 2024 edition will take participants through a decade of artistic expression under the theme ‘Decennial’ to commemorate 10 years of the festival. Since its inception in 2015, ARTWALK has weaved narratives of heritage, history and culture through the canvas of public art. This milestone edition promises a dynamic blend of live music, engaging workshops, captivating performances and awe-inspiring murals.
Also, watch out for the highly anticipated return of ART SG, the premier international art fair for Singapore and Southeast Asia. Set to unveil its second edition at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, this event boasts an extraordinary showcase of regional and global exhibitors. Presented by Founding and Lead Partner UBS, ART SG brings together a stellar line-up of galleries worldwide, complemented by a line-up featuring large-scale installations and thought-provoking conversations.
For more lifestyle, arts and fashion trends, click here for Options Section
The exhibitor list features 115 galleries from 33 countries and territories, including many of the world’s best-known galleries such as Gagosian, White Cube, Thaddaeus Ropac, Lehmann Maupin, Xavier Hufkens, Stephen Friedman Gallery, Kukje Gallery, P.P.O.W, ShanghART Gallery and Ota Fine Arts.
You can look forward to a comprehensive line-up of Singapore and Southeast Asian galleries highlighting artistic practice from the region, including Yavuz Gallery, Richard Koh Fine Art, Mizuma Gallery, Sullivan + Strumpf, Fost Gallery and first-time participants Bangkok CityCity Gallery, Nadi Gallery, Wei-Ling Gallery, The Back Room, Rissim Contemporary, Srisasanti Gallery and Kohesi Initiatives.
S.E.A. Focus, the platform for Southeast Asian contemporary art, is returning to Tanjong Pagar Distripark, organised by STPI — Creative Workshop & Gallery in Singapore. S.E.A. Focus 2024 invites visitors to delve into the human experience in a world with diverse intelligences. The exhibition showcases top talents from the region and offers engaging activities for art enthusiasts, including a diverse film program featuring video works from various artists. Whether a seasoned collector or a curious observer, this event has something for everyone.
For the full programme line-up and participating artists, visit www.artweek.sg
