Charles Lim, SEA STATE phase 1 (production still), 2014. Courtesy of the artist

The artist Charles Lim will represent Singapore at the 56th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia, one of the oldest and most important exhibitions of contemporary art in the world.

The presentation, commissioned by the National Arts Council, Singapore, will see the culmination of Lim’s critically acclaimed SEA STATE project in the newly restored Sale d’Armi building at the Arsenale.

SEA STATE is a project in nine parts, initiated in 2005 by artist and former Olympic sailor Charles Lim, with the premise of inverting perceptions of sea and land on the island of Singapore. It explores the biophysical, political and psychic contours of the Southeast Asian city-state, through the visible and invisible lenses of the sea. The project’s structure is inspired by the World Meteorological Organization’s code for measuring sea conditions, which numbers the varying states ranging from calm, to moderate, to the phenomenal.

After a brief hiatus in 2013, Singapore returns to Venice this year with a pavilion in the historic Arsenale for the first time. Paul Tan, Deputy Chief Executive, National Arts Council, says:

“la Biennale di Venezia remains the premier platform to showcase Singapore’s visual artists to the world, and connect them with their international peers. We are excited to see Charles’ work take shape and this global platform will provide crucial critical validation to his practice. As modern Singapore turns 50, we wish for the country to grow as a centre for artistic production and research in Asia.”

Project Website: http://seastate.sg/

Public exhibition: 9 May – 22 November
Venue: Arsenale, Venice, Italy