Time to recharge ourselves and get this new year started! The annual Singapore Art Week 2017 is back for the fifth time with a 12-day celebration of visual arts. You will be spoilt for choice with film screenings, museum exhibitions, workshops as well as festival happenings at art spaces all over Singapore.
Here’s the lowdown of where to be from 11th to 22nd January 2017.
- Bizarre Honour by OH! Open House (14 January – 26 March 2017)
We were fans of OH! Open House since it debuted in 2009. Their quirky site-specific installations brought us through CBD offices and even into someone’s home in the heartland. Curatorially, they have consistently put up an excellent show by drawing leading the viewer to personal and private spaces that are bound to surprise and intrigue.
This year, the Open House will be held at Chip Bee Gardens. It takes a blast to the past as Singapore’s relationship with its inhabitants from colony to city-state is explored.
An anonymous artist has transformed a two-storey house into a colonial museum. Following the narrative that tigers used to be the pests of Singapore, viewers will survey curious objects that tell the history of this island from a more Malayan perspective. It will also be interesting to get the whole space to yourself, since only one viewer will be admitted at any given time.
Fastest fingers first! The remaining slots are for 7pm on 13 and 14 January.
More here: http://ohopenhouse.peatix.com/
- Welcome to Birdhead World Again, featuring Papacurry (9 December – 22 January 2017)
Ji Weiyu and Song Tao, collectively known as Birdhead, are analog advocates. They stay away from social media tools like Facebook and Instagram. Yet, like the most of us, they remain obsessed about documenting life around them.
“Every day we need something to do,” says Ji Weiyu, “so we take pictures.”
The duo’s photographic stream of consciousness have toured Venice Biennale, MoMA and Art Basel Miami Beach. They capture a city’s transition as well as how they grow and fit within this. Turning the camera lens inwards, all their images are ultimately a reflection of themselves.
For Singapore Art Week, they have produced new works that have been inspired by South-East Asia and will be swinging by Gillman Barracks to perform a piece with Papacurry (Chayuti Janrakangtong) from Chiangmai.
More here: http://www.shanghartsingapore.com/gallerysg/
- Art Stage 2017 (12 – 15 January 2017)
Returning with a variety of regional and international art works, this seventh edition promises the best of Asian contemporary art. Its second Southeast Asia Forum, Net Present Value: Art, Capital, Futures, will be discussing the theme of capitalism through lectures and an exhibition. Join in for some stimulating conversations together with artists and opinion leaders from the region and more.
More here: http://artstage.com/singapore/site/home
- State of Motion 2017: Through Stranger Eyes (6 January – 5 February 2017)
Presented by Asian Film Archive, Through Stranger Eyes will explore local history through the eyes of an actor.
Five selected films will be screened with site-specific artworks made in response to them by local artists such as Amanda Lee Koe and Jeremy Sharma. The Observatory will also be performing specially for the night tours.
Marrying film, art and music all in one, what will you not love?
More here: http://a-list.sg/events/state-of-motion-2017-through-stranger-eyes/
- Aliwal Urban Art Festival 2017 (14 January 2017)
If you are craving more street art vibes, not to worry. The Aliwal Urban Art Festival is back this coming weekend. Inspired by international street culture, be prepared for skateboarding, street dancing, graffiti and disco. The one-day festival will be a party with local bands, works from local artists and complete with a Barter Workshop Market.
No Regrets For Our Youth, an exhibition curated by art collective DXXXXD, invites everyone to join them at examining #gymlife in their artistic and functional gym. Work out your art muscle, and have some fun!
More here: https://www.aliwalartscentre.sg/events/aliwaluaf17/
- Singapore Contemporary Art Show 2017 (19 – 22 January 2017)
Back for the second time, the art show will feature more than 90 leading galleries and artists from all over Asia and the globe. Head down to experience art in a space of more than 6,000 sq/m2, organised into various sectors. You can expect “Artist Dialogues”, “China Encounters” and “Photo 17” – a photography-centred sector to recognise the gaining popularity of contemporary photography in Southeast Asia.
There will also be complimentary art tours, children’s art studios and live painting demonstrations for everyone.
More here: http://www.singaporecontemporary.com/home/en/
For more information, please visit www.artweek.sg.
This article is brought to you by A List Singapore.
