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The annual visual arts season, which runs from January 22 to 30, unfolds across the island with a dynamic line-up of art and interventions in unexpected places, from bus stops and car parks to the digital realm. We list the key digital offerings that are accessible from the comforts of home
They say that creativity flourishes in times of crisis. And if the line-up for this year’s Singapore Art Week (SAW) is anything to go by, artists and curators are unleashing their creative potential to navigate through these unprecedented times and generating new, innovative ideas and collaborations.
For one, the pandemic has accelerated the digitalisation of the arts, and the Singapore arts scene has swiftly adopted the use of new technologies, not only as an alternative platform for the presentation and consumption of works but also in the creation of new ones. And then there are those who are exploring the intersection of art and tech, experimenting with augmented reality and virtual reality, among others.
This is why when it returns for the ninth edition from January 22 to 30, the annual visual arts season will be presented for the first time in a hybrid format, with crossovers from the physical to digital realms, in celebration of the resilience and solidarity of the vibrant arts community. This also helps further the reach of Singapore-produced works and collaborations on the global stage, thus increasing the exposure of artists and curators to the art world at large, be it collectors or art institutions alike.
A joint initiative by the National Arts Council, Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Economic Development Board, SAW 2021 features more than 100 programmes, including over 40 commissioned works, by some 300 artists from countries including Singapore, Japan, the UK and the US, along with the participation of reputable foreign galleries and auction houses. Signature SAW events including the Light to Night Festival organised by the National Gallery Singapore and S.E.A. Focus by the STPI Creative Workshop & Gallery are also set to return.
There are also the gallery exhibitions centred around established artists, including Yayoi Kusama: Recent Paintings by Ota Fine Art and Cunxin Cuntie Cunxin, a solo exhibition of Singapore pioneer artist Tang Da Wu at Comma Space, as well as emerging artists from Singapore such as c/discoveries: A Solo Show by Aisha Rosli at Cuturi Gallery.
Bringing new meaning to SAW’s theme of “Art Takes Over”, artists and curators are taking their art beyond the white cube and making interventions in less conventional spaces across the island—including bus stops with the Bus.Stop.Art public art exhibition, a car park with the Moo Moo PARK drive-through exhibition at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, and at the mall with the Creative Unions art-meets-retail programme at Funan—while also crossing into the digital realm. Other highlights include State of Motion 2021: [Alternate / Opt] Realities by the Asian Film Archive presented at Marina One as well as Singapore Art Museum’s CosmicWander: Expedition by Choy Ka Fai and S.E.A. Focus 2021 and at the Tanjong Pagar Distripark, an industrial space activated by art.
(Related: S.E.A. Focus Is A New Platform That Champions Southeast Asian Art)