Rituals of Perception gathers works born from intimate dialogues between body and matter, unfolding through slow, contemplative, and iterative processes. Against the backdrop of digital acceleration and collective disenchantment, the exhibition turns toward practices that reattune us to presence, where every gesture and touch becomes a quiet act of resistance against an increasingly dehumanised sense of time. Linking practices from over twenty international artists, the exhibition seeks a shared sensibility across geographies, especially in traditions where material history intertwines with personal stories and bodily knowledge.
At its core lies the notion of presentiment, an intuitive awareness that extends beyond rational understanding. Defined by philosopher Byung-Chul Han, presentiment does not concern only what is to come; it traverses the full expanse of temporality, revealing what already exists yet escapes articulation. Within this awareness, process and trace become vital, transforming abstract time into something both visible and felt. Through gestures of kneading, weaving, casting, folding, cutting, stitching, or even copying and pasting, the artists in Rituals of Perception embody the presentiment by dwelling within the temporal cyclicality of making. Their works invite viewers to pause, to linger, to inhabit a duration rather than move through it.
Staged at Singapore’s New Bahru School Hall, the exhibition features works from the Tanoto Family Collection, loans and new commissions. Rituals of Perception is curated by Xiaoyu Weng, TAF Artistic Director. During the opening reception, artist Sriwhana Spong will present a new performance as part of her ongoing research, premiering in Singapore.
Venue: New Bahru School Hall, 46 Kim Yam Road, School Block, #02-02, Singapore 239351
When: 21 Jan - 1 Mar 2026,
By: New Bahru
