Singapore Art Week 2024: Discover the Wonders of Singapore Through Art

Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of art as Singapore Art Week (SAW) returns from January 19 to 28, 2024. This 12th edition of SAW promises to be an extraordinary celebration of visual arts, offering more than 130 unique experiences across Singapore, from the bustling urban core to the heartlands.

Singapore Art Week 2024

Organized by the National Arts Council (NAC) and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), SAW is the longest-running art week in the region, drawing art enthusiasts and collectors from around the world. This annual event offers a remarkable opportunity to explore Singapore's diverse arts scene and gain fresh perspectives on Southeast Asian art.

SAW 2024 is set to be a visual extravaganza, bringing Singapore's art scene into the spotlight. Audiences can anticipate a comprehensive showcase of Singapore's visual art, conveniently located all in one place. Whether you're an art connoisseur, a casual enthusiast, or a family looking for a cultural outing, SAW has something for everyone. From international art fairs and world-class museum exhibitions to exclusive private collections, gallery openings, captivating street art, brand activations, and a plethora of exciting lifestyle and community art activities, this event promises to redefine how we perceive and experience visual arts in Singapore and the region.

Ms. Lynette Pang, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NAC, emphasizes the significance of SAW in the context of Singapore's rapidly growing arts scene. She notes, “SAW is Singapore’s pinnacle visual arts season and an important moment for Singapore’s fast-growing arts scene to take centre stage. For the Singapore and global arts community, SAW presents innovative programmes and exhibitions across different mediums to spark conversations and artistic exchanges. Local and international audiences can look forward to a wide range of art experiences and activities from the city centre to the heartlands that is reflective of our distinctive and vibrant arts scene and culture. We invite everyone to engage with and be inspired by the creative expressions at SAW 2024.”

Singapore art takes centre stage

Singapore Art Week 2024 (SAW 2024) is not just a celebration of the city's rich art history but also a platform to explore fresh and creative intersections in the world of arts. Through its Open Call Projects and presentations by Singapore's esteemed cultural institutions, SAW 2024 promises to be a dynamic and thought-provoking event. This year, the public can anticipate a wide range of multimodal presentations that engage with essential conversations about contemporary life and our place in the world.

In this article, we'll highlight some of the exciting events and projects that will make SAW 2024 a truly exceptional experience.

Boedi Widjaja's "Immortal Words":

One of the most anticipated showcases at SAW 2024 is the work of Indonesia-born Singaporean contemporary artist, Boedi Widjaja. His project, "Immortal Words," is a fascinating collaboration with geneticist Associate Professor Eric Yap.

This innovative project playfully illustrates the intricate connections between art and science. Alongside both new and existing artworks on exhibition, "Immortal Words" takes a unique approach by encoding words of oral and written tradition from various Southeast Asian languages and beyond into DNA.

What's more, visitors can take home vials of DNA-encoded ink dispensed through gachapon machines, adding a whimsical and interactive element to this exploration of art and science.

Open Studio Sessions:

SAW 2024 offers a rare opportunity for audiences to get an exclusive look into the creative processes of established Singaporean artists who have played a pivotal role in shaping the city's visual art history. Open studio sessions will be a window into the world of these artistic pioneers.

This unique format allows visitors to interact with the artists, witness their works in progress, and gain insights into their creative inspirations. Among the notable artists participating in the open studio sessions are modern artist Teo Eng Seng and the celebrated poet and calligrapher Tan Swie Hian.

Light to Night Singapore 2024: "Reimagine" the Civic District:

Light to Night Singapore 2024 is a marquee event that art enthusiasts eagerly anticipate every year. This annual highlight in the Singapore cultural calendar transforms the Civic District into a mesmerizing wonderland. With immersive projections, captivating art installations, and engaging programs, the event's theme for 2024 is "Reimagine."

Organized by the National Gallery Singapore in collaboration with iconic cultural institutions in the Civic District, including the Asian Civilisations Museum, The Arts House, Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, and Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Light to Night Singapore is a must-visit for those looking to experience the city's rich cultural tapestry in a unique and immersive way.

Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America:

At the National Gallery Singapore, the blockbuster exhibition "Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America" promises to be a groundbreaking showcase. This exhibition, a world-first, takes a comparative approach across both regions, highlighting their shared struggles against colonialism. Spanning the 20th century, the exhibition will feature over 200 artworks by 70 artists, including iconic figures such as Latiff Mohidin, Frida Kahlo, and Diego Rivera. It explores how these artists challenged conventions and fostered solidarities, making it a unique and thought-provoking experience for art enthusiasts.

Singapore Art Museum (SAM): Celebrating Singaporean Talent:

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is shining a spotlight on Singaporean talent during SAW 2024. They present "Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger," which is the first mid-career survey exhibition of the acclaimed Singaporean artist. This exhibition spans two decades of Ho Tzu Nyen's practice, featuring paintings, films, theatrical performances, and video installations. It includes a new commission, "T for Time," a two-channel video installation that reflects on the embodied and heterogeneous experiences of time.

SAM also presents "Simryn Gill and Charles Lim Yi Yong: The Sea is a Field," a unique collaboration between SAM curators and artists as they chronicle the space that separates the artists' homes between Port Dickson and Singapore. All three artists have participated in numerous institutional and international exhibitions, including the Venice Biennale, with Ho and Lim representing Singapore in 2011 and 2015, respectively.

Art enthusiasts can anticipate the unveiling of more private collections at SAW 2024. Notable showcases include The Pierre Lorinet Collection and a group exhibition by The Private Museum, featuring esteemed Singaporean pioneers like the late performance artist Lee Wen and contemporary mixed media visual artist Vincent Leow.

Bringing together the best of Southeast Asian visual art

Singapore, as a thriving arts hub in Southeast Asia, plays host to SAW 2024, where artists, curators, collectors, and audiences from Singapore, the region, and beyond converge. This edition will introduce new programs and collaborations, with the return of international platforms.

For the first time, the National Arts Council (NAC) collaborates with Hyundai Artlab's VH AWARD to bring The 5th VH AWARD exhibition to Singapore. This award platform has been supporting emerging media artists from Asia since 2016. Curated by Objectifs, the inaugural exhibition in Southeast Asia spotlights works by international artists and filmmakers engaged with the context of Asia and its future, pushing the boundaries of art and technology. The exhibition will travel to Museum MACAN in Jakarta, Indonesia, following its presentation in Singapore.

At Gillman Barracks, The Institutum is set to unveil "Translations: Afro-Asian Poetics," thoughtfully curated by Dr. Zoé Whitley from London's Chisenhale Gallery. This groundbreaking exhibition marks the very first of its kind in Singapore, delving into the private collections of renowned modern and contemporary artists hailing from the African and Asian diasporas.

The exhibition includes a diverse array of artists, among them being the versatile Singaporean artist Robert Zhao Renhui, who is slated to represent Singapore at the 60th Biennale Arte. Notably, the showcase also shines a spotlight on British Afro-Caribbean artist and educator Sonia Boyce, a recipient of the prestigious Golden Lion Prize at the 2022 Biennale Arte in Venice. Furthermore, it features the work of film artist Tuan Andrew Nguyen from Vietnam and the sculptor and installation artist Do Ho Suh from South Korea, both of whom have left their creative imprints across the globe, including the revered Museum of Modern Art in New York.

ART SG, the preeminent international art fair for both Singapore and Southeast Asia, is thrilled to announce its highly-anticipated second edition. Mark your calendars for its return to Singapore from January 19 to 21, 2024. The event boasts an extraordinary lineup of exhibitors from both regional and global spheres, offering a diverse program featuring large-scale installations and enlightening discussions.

Meanwhile, S.E.A. Focus, a native cornerstone for Southeast Asian contemporary art, is gearing up for its sixth edition, scheduled from January 20 to 28, 2024. This showcase is dedicated to presenting the most esteemed and budding talents from the region. Across Singapore's commercial galleries, expect the unveiling of fresh exhibitions featuring artists from across the globe. Additionally, visitors can anticipate engaging presentations spotlighting renowned artists at the ArtScience Museum, located at Marina Bay Sands.

Mr. Yap Chin Siang, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), highlights the vibrancy of SAW 2024, with innovative art experiences from various artists, institutions, fairs, and curators. These events, including the Light to Night Festival, ART SG, and S.E.A. Focus, strengthen Singapore's reputation as a regional arts hub and a compelling leisure destination. International visitors and locals are invited to immerse themselves in this dynamic arts season and be inspired by the diverse range of arts experiences throughout Singapore in January.

For the latest updates, visit https://www.artweek.sg/ and follow @sgartweek on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram.