SB2016 Curatorial Team

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) unveiled the title for the fifth edition of the Singapore Biennale – An Atlas of Mirrors. Through this title, Singapore Biennale 2016 (SB2016) will explore curatorial and artistic themes that pivot on Southeast Asia, but also encompass East and South Asia. Taking place from 28 October 2016 to 26 February 2017, the four-month long international contemporary art exhibition is organised by SAM and commissioned by the National Arts Council of Singapore. SB2016 will feature several site-specific and commissioned contemporary works never seen before on the biennale circuit.

For centuries, atlases and mirrors have been instrumental in humankind’s exploration of the world as we navigate and map our journeys into the unknown. While the atlas helps to chart paths of discovery, the mirror offers reflections and perspectives which can be, at times, skewed and distorted. Bringing together the atlas and mirror as an imagined new ‘device’ creates possibilities for unexpected ways of thinking and seeing. An Atlas of Mirrors will draw on diverse artistic viewpoints that trace the migratory and intertwining relationships within the region, and reflect on shared histories and current realities with East and South Asia. SB2016 examines the challenges of the region’s contemporary conditions, and positions Southeast Asia as the vantage point from which the world can be pictured anew.

Artists who will be featured in SB2016 include the likes of Ahmad Fuad Osman from Malaysia, Martha Atienza from the Philippines, Rathin Barman from India, Fyerool Darma from Singapore, Han Sai Por from Singapore, Nguyen Phuong Linh from Vietnam, Qiu Zhijie from China, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook from Thailand, Titarubi from Indonesia, Tun Win Aung and Wah Nu – an artist collective from Myanmar. A comprehensive list of participating artists will be released at a later date in 2016.

The SB2016 curatorial team will work closely with Dr. Susie Lingham, who will be taking on the role of Creative Director for SB2016 when she relinquishes her role as Director of SAM at the end of March. As Creative Director, Dr. Lingham performs the key role in shaping and facilitating curatorial discussions, and will oversee all SB2016 creative content, including curatorial, intellectual, branding, as well as public and educational programming content.

The SB2016 curatorial team consists of SAM Curators Ms. Joyce Toh, Ms. Tan Siuli, Mr. Louis Ho, Ms. Andrea Fam and Mr. John Tung, as well as four Associate Curators Ms. Suman Gopinath – based in Bangalore, India; Ms. Nur Hanim Khairuddin – based in Ipoh, Malaysia, Mr. Michael Lee from Singapore, and Ms. Xiang Liping – based in Shanghai, China.