January Round-Up

National Gallery Singapore, Art Agenda, Singapore Art Museum, Aicon Contemporary, and more
By Shalyn Lim

Nam June Paik and John Godfrey, ‘Global Groove’, 1973 , video , colour , sound , 28 min 30 sec. Image courtesy of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York.

Nam June Paik: The Future is Now

National Gallery Singapore stages an exhibition featuring Korean artist Nam June Paik (1932 - 2006). ‘Nam June Paik: The Future Is Now’ is an international tour that concludes in Singapore, its only Asian stop, after kicking off at London’s Tate Modern in 2019. It features an extensive array of Paik’s five decades of visionary and playful practice through more than 180 multimedia works. In celebration of his multidisciplinary and collaborative career, visitors are encouraged to immerse themselves in Paik’s unique world and get into his playful yet inventive spirit through the artist’s works. 

National Gallery Singapore, 10 December 2021 to 27 March 2022.

‘We're Young Once' exhibition poster. Image courtesy of Art Agenda.

We're Young Once

Curated by Ian Tee, ‘We’re Young Once’ is a group exhibition that seeks to explore the themes of representation and reflections, taking the curatorial approach of considering both the micro- and macro- histories embedded. Each work on its own is a time capsule, providing insight into the artist’s aspirations and anxieties at the early stage of their career. Collaboratively, the exhibition tells a layered story of Singapore art as artists respond to the baggage of history and contribute their voices to the discourse. Presented by Art Agenda, the group exhibition features works of artists such as Lim Yew Kuan, Amanda Heng, Tang Da Wu, Youths in Balaclava and many more.

 Art Agenda @ 63 Spottiswoode, 8 to 30 January 2022.

Korakrit Arunanondchai, Installation view of ‘A Machine Boosting Energy into the Universe’, 2021. Image courtesy of the artist and BANGKOK CITYCITY GALLERY.

Singapore Art Museum (SAM) Museum In Action

SAM launches its new space at Tanjong Pagar Distripark this month, presenting local and Southeast Asian contemporary art in the expansive warehouse and other unexpected spaces around Singapore, in collaboration with partners and communities. The opening line-up includes ‘Gan Siong King: My Video Making Practice’, ‘Korakrit Arunanondchai: A Machine Boosting Energy Into the Universe’ and ‘Present Realms’ by residents of the pilot SAM Residencies programme: Chu Hao Pei, Salty Xi Jie Ng and Johann Yamin. Local band The Observatory will show an inter-media exhibition ‘REFUSE’, which puts together mycology design by Bewilder, scenography installation by Sai aka Chen Sai Hua Kuan, archive arrangement by Ujikaji, and moving image by Yeo Siew Hua, guest curated by Tang Fu Kuen.

 SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, from 14 January 2022 onwards.

Haffendi Anuar, ‘BBs Duet II’, 2021, oil, acrylic, sand, modelling paste, Time Out London and Financial Times clippings on canvas board, 52.8 x 81cm. Image courtesy of artist.

Notes from the Motherland

Aicon Contemporary presents an exhibition titled, ‘Notes from the Motherland’ where each artist has taken a different approach to critique and interrogate the histories and traditions that make us who we are. The exhibition features works from artists such as  Haffendi Anuar, Marina Cruz, Richie Htet, Ruth Marbun, Padma Rajendran and Nadia Waheed. Through grappling with clashing notions of sexuality, gender expression, religious practice, or a reconciliation of our contemporary lifestyles with those of previous generations, these artists carve out homes for themselves through their art. 

 Aicon Contemporary, 16 December 2021 to 22 January 2022.

Image taken from Maiiam Contemporary Art Museum’s website.

Fluidity of Scenes

‘Fluidity of Scenes’ is a showcase of contemporary artworks from the collection of MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum by four artists: Som Supaparinya, Miti Ruangkritya, Tawatchai Puntusawasdi, and Tada Hengsapkul. The curated works discuss the changes in the ‘landscape’ that is connected to ‘liquidity’ in various ways, be they in terms of characteristics, a physical state, or ideas that are associated with certain geographical areas, historical transformations, and modern, urban conditions. In this exhibition, the artists each have their own methods of interpreting the transformation of the landscape across a spectrum of visual arts.

Lanna Architecture Centre, 2 November 2021 to 28 February 2022.