Singapore Art Week 2019

SAW2019 will be a collective and multi-disciplinary effort bringing together new and old partners – including art institutions, museums and galleries, as well as groups and collectives of established and emerging artmakers intent on engaging a wider audience through compelling, innovative and memorable art experiences.

Beyond the art fairs, gallery openings, exhibitions, public art and lifestyle events, SAW2019 audiences can also enjoy art offerings that explore familiar public spaces in a new light; draw inspiration from technology, tradition and heritage; and present Singapore’s diverse and distinctive visual arts landscape in the company of world class names.

This wide spread of accessible art activities will take place island-wide, from site-specific installations around the Civic District, Little India and other public areas, to malls, unconventional spaces, and even the Singapore River, bringing new life to spaces not usually associated with art. Whether you are an art collector, art enthusiast, or casual onlooker – SAW2019 promises new and inspiring ways of experiencing art, drawing different audiences together in shared appreciation of Singapore’s vibrant visual arts.

SAW2019 Highlights

S.E.A. Focus at Gillman Barracks
24 – 27 January 2019
With a spotlight on established and emerging Southeast Asian artists, 2019 sees the debut of S.E.A Focus, an initiative by STPI – Creative Workshop and Gallery, which aims to showcase these local talents and help grow and nurture a deeper appreciation for the dynamic and rapidly evolving modern and contemporary art scene within the region. The curated boutique art fair features presentations by 25 local and international galleries via a pop-up location within Gillman Barracks, allowing audiences to explore via a diverse range of programmes including performances, talks and tours.

the ARTery – an Art Outreach Pop-Up at Marina Bay Sands
24 – 27 January 2019
Art Outreach is organising a pop-up to offer a platform for exhibitors who have already shipped their works here before the cancellation of Art Stage was announced on January 16. The pop-up is organised with support from Marina Bay Sands, and the assistance of the agencies behind Singapore Art Week – National Arts Council, Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore Economic Development Board.

Frieze Academy Series, Public vs. Private Museums: Bridging the Divide?
25 January 2019
Frieze Academy makes its debut during Singapore Art Week 2019. This is the second of three events organised by Frieze, in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, which see local and international creatives come together to exchange insights on contemporary art in Southeast Asia. What is the difference between ‘public’ and ‘private’ in the 21st-century museum landscape? What roles do private organisations occupy in regions where public art infrastructure is limited or contested? How do – or should – their programmes and responsibilities diverge from or overlap with those that are state-funded?

Light To Night Festival 2019: Traces and Echoes
18 January – 24 February 2019
Celebrating Singapore’s Civic District, urban art event Light to Night Festival returns once again, bringing accessible artworks and a range of creative and artistic expressions to audiences. Over two weekends, the festival will play out in some of Singapore’s most iconic settings, and include artworks and events like public art commissions. Look out for the return of Art Skins on Monuments by Brandon Tay and Safaun Johari, outdoor installations by Tell Your Children and MessyMsxi, as well audio installation Under the Five Trees in Esplanade Park and the Common Life exhibition which will take audiences on a visual and poetic journey across scenes in everyday Singaporean neighbourhoods. Rounding out the festival will be performances at Victoria Concert hall, home of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), and free guided tours of the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. The Empress Lawn and Connaught Drive look set to be transformed with a wide array of food and craft stalls, perfect for picnicking and taking in the vibrancy of Singapore’s Civic District.

< > Sim Lim Square Art Residency
7 – 27 January 2019
Held in the heart of Singapore’s electronic goods mall, Sim Lim Square, this three-week residency aims to bring together multiple art and technology communities, from Sim Lim Square tenants, store owners and repair technicians, regular shoppers at the mall, to technologists and academics, offering audiences the chance to witness the residency as an open studio, workshop and exhibition all at once. Following artist presentations on the opening night, panel sessions and guided tours form part of the residency experience, while open studios from 12 – 6pm daily allow audiences the opportunity to engage in conversations with each artist, providing an exposition of the processes and means of art-making with technology.

Adaptations
17 January – 9 February 2019
Organised and curated by independent art space Supernormal and artist-educator Ong Kian Peng, Adaptations is the first ever showcase of its kind to address the correlation between contemporary art and technology. Featuring seven local and international artists, the exhibition will showcase diverse practices ranging from video art, device art, computational art as well as hybrid practices combining digital and traditional media. Combining a diverse programme from artist talks and guided tours, practical workshops and performances, this exhibition aims to highlight the expanded potential of technology within the contemporary art genre.

The MeshMinds Foundation and LASALLE College of the Arts present:
Art x Tech For Good
19 – 27 January 2019
Art x Tech For Good, Singapore’s first student-led immersive art exhibition focusing on sustainability of people and the planet, shows exactly the impact when art meets cutting technology. Audiences can enjoy workshops, talks and performances featuring mashups with VR painting, 360 films and 3D printing.