Donna Ong, The Meeting, 2009, Five screen projection, table, photographs and lamps, 12 x 10 x 2.5 m

As part of the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s independence, the Prudential Eye Programme will present Prudential Singapore Eye, the largest ever single exhibition of contemporary Singaporean art at ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands, which will run from 17th January to 28th June. The exhibition will be a key highlight of Singapore Art Week 2015, alongside the international art fair Art Stage Singapore and the second Prudential Eye Awards.

Established in 2008 by David and Serenella Ciclitira and sponsored by life insurer Prudential, the Prudential Eye Programme is an initiative that nurtures artistic talent. The programme aims to develop arts infrastructure in territories where this is lacking, in order to provide artists with the platforms, support, and recognition they need to develop their careers.

Previous projects from the Prudential Eye Programme include Korean Eye (2009 to 2012), Indonesian Eye (2011), Hong Kong Eye (2013), and Malaysian Eye (2014). These have featured international touring exhibitions and publications providing emerging Asian artists with opportunities to showcase their work. To date, the programme has held eighteen exhibitions worldwide, which have been viewed by over two million people.

Yeo Chee Kiong, A Secret Garden, 2013, Installation, Site specific

Prudential Singapore Eye provides a current overview of the country’s emerging artistic talent from a global perspective. It will showcase the depth and diversity of Singapore’s visual arts scene as well as raise the profile of Singaporean artists in the international art world. To further this goal, the exhibition will be accompanied by a comprehensive book, which will be launched in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition, featuring a wider selection of 75 contemporary Singaporean artists.

David Ciclitira, Founder of the Prudential Eye Programme, states:

“Singapore is fast gaining recognition as a capital for cultural exchange within the global arts community. (…) This is a major step forward in raising awareness about the outstanding work being created by the art community in Singapore.”

In choosing the 17 artists represented in the exhibition, Honor Harger, Executive Director of ArtScience Museum, joined the international curatorial team, which includes Serenella Ciclitira, Founder of the Global Eye Programme, Nigel Hurst, Gallery Director and Chief Executive of Saatchi Gallery, London, and independent curator and art critic Johnson Chang. The 17 selected artists include Chen Sai Hua Kuan, Chia Ming Chien, Angela Chong, Adeline Kueh, Jane Lee, Sean Lee, Gerald Leow, Charles Lim, Justin Loke, Samantha Tio (Mintio), Kumari Nahappan, Ho Tzu Nyen, Donna Ong, Jeremy Sharma, Jason Wee, Lee Wen, Yeo Chee Kiong.

Sherman Ong, HanoiHaiku-Hair, 2006, Digital Print on Archival Paper, 75 x 150 cm
Courtesy of the artist and Art Plural Gallery

In conjunction with this special exhibition focusing exclusively on Singaporean art, the Prudential Eye Programme will also present the second edition of the Prudential Eye Awards, which will feature a public exhibition of works by the shortlisted artists at ArtScience Museum between 17th January and 31st March. The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on 20th January. These prestigious annual awards recognise the best emerging contemporary Asian artists, as well as the leading exhibitions, galleries, institutions, and art critics working to promote contemporary Asian art.

Some 500 artists, nominated by over 100 art experts from across Greater Asia, submitted portfolios of their work in early 2014. The three most outstanding artists per award category were chosen and their works displayed in the exhibition. Shortlisted Singaporean artists include Genevieve Chua for her intricate and conceptually complex drawings, Donna Ong for her dream-like theatrical installations, and Sherman Ong (Malaysia/Singapore), whose photographs display both psychological and thematic depth.

The awards feature 13 prizes, with six categories of Best Emerging Artist in the media digital/video, drawing, installation, painting, photography, and sculpture. Of the six artists awarded in each category, one overall winner will be chosen for the prize of Best Emerging Artist. Along with prize money, this winner will be given the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at the renowned Saatchi Gallery in London.

More info about Prudential Singapore Eye.

Exhibition: Prudential Singapore Eye
Dates: 17 January – 28 June 2015
Venue: ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands

Exhibition: Prudential Eye Awards
Dates: 17 January – 31 March 2015
Venue: ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands