Qissa’s Guide to Singapore Art Week 2024

Together, Hue & Me

A project that asks visitors to reflect on the communal spaces in their neighbourhoods and consider how our lives intersect with other residents. The project features artworks and soundscapes from residents of Jalan Kayu (a road in Singapore) and the exhibition also includes opportunities for visitors to take part in artmaking activities.

Alternative Ecology: The Community

More of a series of events than an exhibition, Alternative Ecology will host panel talks, booths and symposiums, rallying the public for awareness of our fragile environment. Programmes include the Renew Earth Sweat Shop Workshop, a Stone Soup Party, Eco-Karaoke night and an Eco-Singles Night!

Art SG

Launched just last year, Art SG is Singapore and Southeast Asia's leading international art fair. Galleries from around the world will participate in this ticketed event, which will include large-scale installations, film programmes and curated talks. Definitely one not to miss. 

VH AWARD

We’re hugely excited by the fact that the VH AWARD is taking place for the first time in Singapore during Singapore Art Week. Now in its fifth year, the award celebrates emerging media artists from Asia who work at the intersection of art and technology; something that we’re very passionate about at Qissa! Finalists include Zike He and zzyw and their work exploring big data, AI and more is all incredibly topical. 

The Sea is a Field

Over at Singapore Art Museum is an exhibition featuring a collaboration between the museum curators and artists Simryn Gill and Charles Lim Yi Yong as they explore the space between the two artists' respective homes, Port Dickson (a town on Malaysia’s West coast) and Singapore. Gill was one of the standout artists for us at the Barbican exhibition we visited at the end of 2023, so we’re incredibly excited to see this collaborative work from her. 

Art After Dark

Combining visual arts with live music performances, Art After Dark returns to SAW this year, with two free evening events: Rave Night which features local electronic artists and Prom Night with local bands and DJ sets. Who doesn’t want to let their hair down after a cultural day of gallery hopping?!

Eat Play Love

Taking place at the home of the late Dr Tan Kheng Khoo, one of Singapore's most famous meditation teachers, Eat Play Love explores family life, architectural heritage, and landscape futures. Guest artists include Cynthia Delaney Suwito (whose work ‘Daily Life of Plastic Bags’ has to be one of our favourite discoveries from the programme so far) and Susanna Tan, former artist-in-residence programme at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America

The whole Qissa team absolutely loves the sound of the exhibition taking place at the National Gallery Singapore. ‘Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America’ is billed as the world’s first exhibition to take a comparative approach across both regions, uniquely animated by their struggles against colonialism. We love this cross-continent exploration and the artists showcased are a who's-who of 20th century innovation, including Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and Latiff Mohidin. 

How amazing does this programme sound! As Tay Tong, Director of Sector Development (Visual Arts) at the National Arts Council says:

“Singapore Art Week (SAW) is the moment in our annual calendar when the visual arts ecosystem comes together to present its best. Into its 12th edition, SAW 2024 brings together artists, curators, cultural institutions, galleries and industry partners from Singapore and the region to present a wide range of art experiences to diverse audiences, across the city centre and heartlands. From art fairs and exhibitions to innovative projects, we hope to provide a platform for our visual arts ecosystem to thrive while encouraging the curious public to join us on a journey of discovery as art takes over.”

We’ve only scratched the surface of the over 130 visual arts experiences that will be taking place across the island starting next week. But if this is just the beginning, it looks like it’s going to be a great week!