Island-wide event by Art Galleries Association Singapore
By Vivyan Yeo

Singapore Art Gallery Weekend returns with diverse exhibitions, talks and tours featuring contemporary art from Singapore and abroad. Organised by Art Galleries Association Singapore (AGAS), the event will take place from 15 September to 1 October 2023 across multiple districts such as Tanjong Pagar, Gillman Barracks, Orchard Road, Rochor, Bendemeer and more. This year’s edition brings together over 30 art spaces under #GalleryHopping, which aims to highlight Singapore’s vibrant artistic landscape.

Natee Utarit, ‘NANCY RUBINS’, 2023, oil on canvas, 100 x 80cm. Image courtesy of Richard Koh Fine Art and the artist.

“Historia”

At Gillman Barracks, audiences can look forward to ‘“Historia”’, a solo exhibition by Thai artist Natee Utarit at Richard Koh Fine Art. Its title originates from the Greek term ‘Historia’, which means seeking knowledge and inquiring into the past. Featuring 24 new paintings within his ‘Hierarchy of Painting’ series, the show presents a semi-autobiographical narrative of Utarit’s formative years as an artist. They illustrate his attraction to second-hand book stalls and art publications like the well-known magazines Art in America and ARTnews. A testament to Utarit’s dedication to art throughout his life, the exhibition includes his first encounters with artists such as Nancy Rubins, Willem de Kooning and Robert Motherwell.

‘“Historia”’ runs from 9 to 30 September 2023 at Richard Koh Fine Art. Click here for more information.

Brandon Tay, ‘Model A: Adversaries’, 2023, 3D printed sculpture with embedded media display and LCD display with dynamic video loop, 31 x 23 x 26cm. Provenance: Records from Pre-History of Intelligence. Image courtesy of Yeo Workshop.

Form & Agency

Yeo Workshop at Gillman Barracks presents an inaugural solo exhibition by Singapore artist Brandon Tay titled ‘Form & Agency’. Curated by Rafi Abdullah, the show includes a new body of work consisting of 3D-printed sculptures, virtual components and a game simulation. Together, they explore the complex relationship between tangible and incorporeal aspects of the digital realm. The gallery is transformed into an interactive space created by game-engine technology, where visitors can observe the movements of chimeric lifeforms in a livestream projection. Accompanying the exhibition is a collaborative Wikipedia page that invites users to expand on the lore of ‘Form & Agency’.

‘Form & Agency’ runs from 26 August to 1 October 2023 at Yeo Workshop. Click here for more information.

Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, ‘Bagong Nobena Kay Isidro Labrador’, 1988, oil, collage and sawali on canvas, 122 x 364.5cm (triptych). Photo by Erik Liongoren. Image courtesy of the artist and Cultural Center of the Philippines Visual Arts and Museum Division.

In Excess

At Tanjong Pagar Distripark, visitors will find ‘In Excess’, a group show featuring 11 Philippine-based artists: Annie Cabigting, Charlie Co, Christina Quisumbing Ramilo, Geraldine Javier, Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, Louie Cordero, Maria Jeona Zoleta, Marina Cruz, Mark Justiniani, Leslie de Chavez and Victor Balanon. Curated by Joyce Toh, the exhibition critiques and celebrates the notion of ‘excess’, which calls to mind positive ideas of exceeding expectations and sombre topics of greed and consumption. It surveys how the aesthetic of excess, exemplified by grandiose patterns and colour, features in Philippine art across generations and artistic movements. The artworks invite audiences to contemplate how modern life advocates for balance amidst humanity’s constant push for new heights.

‘In Excess’ runs from 21 September to 22 October 2023 at Gajah Gallery Singapore. Click here for more information.

Kumari Nahappan, Anahata installation at the Singapore Biennale, 2013. Image courtesy of the artist and The Private Museum.

Dancing with the Cosmos: Three Decades of Work from Kumari Nahappan

The Private Museum opens its new premises in Rochor with a solo exhibition by Singapore artist Kumari Nahappan. Curated by John Z.W. Tung, the show features over 50 artworks spanning three decades. They include monumental site-specific installations, sculptures, paintings, organic matter and found objects. Its title, ‘Dancing with the Cosmos’, references Hindu cosmic time cycles. Likewise, the show structures Nahappan’s work according to colours that hold significance at various phases of her practice. Each section houses recurring topics such as rituals, nature, time and space, reflecting the ebb and flow of themes in Nahappan’s artistic journey.

‘Dancing with the Cosmos: Three Decades of Work from Kumari Nahappan’ runs from 31 August to 22 October 2023. Click here for more information.

Jeremy Sharma, ‘Woman Playing the Piano’, oil on linen, 50 x 40cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Haridas Contemporary.

Haridas Contemporary Inaugural Exhibition

Among the new galleries participating in Singapore Art Gallery Weekend is Haridas Contemporary on Lavender Street. Founded by Christaan Haridas, the space aims to support emerging and mid-career artists throughout their careers. Its inaugural exhibition doubles as a preview for the gallery’s programming for the next year, featuring new and existing artwork by seven Singapore-based artists. They include paintings, sculptures and video work by Esmond Loh, Gerald Tay, Jeremy Sharma, John Marie Andrada, Lyle Buencamino, Melissa Tan and Oscar Xyh. Toge

‘Haridas Contemporary Inaugural Exhibition’ runs from 16 September to 29 October 2023 at Haridas Contemporary.

#LivingWithArt, #TalkingAboutArt, #TheArtLifeStyle

In addition to visiting exhibitions across the island, audiences of Singapore Art Gallery Weekend can look forward to an exciting roster of events and activities. #LivingWithArt includes a line-up of talks, public parties and exclusive tours of private art collections; #TalkingAboutArt offers a series of lectures that shed light on topics such as art history and art investment; and #TheArtLifeStyle presents an opportunity to purchase a Patron’s Pass in the form of a collectable NFT token, which provides access to VIP programmes and perks. Experiential, educational and engaging, this year’s edition of Singapore Art Gallery Weekend welcomes visitors to immerse themselves in the city’s creative landscape.

Singapore Art Gallery Weekend runs from 15 September to 1 October 2023 in multiple areas across Singapore. Click here to find out more.

RELATED POSTS