January is a crazy (but fun!) month for art lovers in Singapore, as the city greets the New Year with a slew of exhibitions, blockbuster fairs and curatorial tours under the massive Singapore Art Week (www.artweek.sg), happening from 16 to 24 January.
A good place to start is the PPC | 珍珠坊: A Public Living Room (15 to 30 January, Level 5 Carpark, People’s Park Complex) exhibition, which attempts to blur the distinctions between the public and private.
Love pop culture? Be sure to make time for Andy Warhol: Social Circus (16 to 29 January, #01-26 Gillman Barracks, 47 Malan Road), where a rare collection of the artist’s private polaroids of famous people in the ‘70s and ‘80s will be on display for the first time in Asia.
Art enclave Gillman Barracks is also hosting Art After Dark (22 January, 9 Lock Road), an outdoor party with various arts-based activities, shows as well as foodie pop-ups.
For a dose of Singapore’s street culture, head down to the cool Bugis district for an evening of good sounds, street art, skateboarding and dance performances at Aliwal Urban Arts Festival (16 January, Aliwal Arts Centre).
Guided tours are a great way to explore the city, and there is a handful that you can join during the Singapore Art Week. Discover the past, present and future of the Singapore Story as you admire the works along the Jubilee Walk with Public Art Walking Tour, and don’t forget to pop into the new National Gallery Singapore while you’re in the area!
Otherwise, hop onboard the Concrete Island (23 January), an intriguing bus tour that will take you from Changi Airport to Tuas Checkpoint to experience a moving image of Singapore. Architect and university professor Dr Lai Chee Kien will be on hand to address the city’s urban history, its movement and the design of expressways.
Searching for an immersive art experience? Then head over to Joo Chiat and experience an interactive art work entitled No Man’s Land by OH Open House (22 – 31 January). At this event, guests will follow a narrative trail that fuses fact with fiction as they uncover various interesting spots of the historical neighbourhood.
Calling all culture vultures! Head on down to the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) to check out contemporary collections and events that even the biggest art buffs will approve of. On top of five exhibitions, make the most of roving performances, talks and tours with international artists and curators, an art market, and late night live music in the SAM courtyards.
Better yet, these events are just the tip of the iceberg. Southeast Asia’s flagship art fair Art Stage Singapore 2016 (21 to 24 January, Sands Expo & Convention Centre) and the Prudential Eye Awards and Finalists’ Exhibition 2016 (16 to 27 March) are making a comeback this year.
Plus there is a whole bunch of exciting exhibitions and activities to look forward to all across the island. Pop into www.artweek.sg for a complete overview!
This article was published in Singapore Insider, a series of quarterly print guides produced in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board. Pick up a free copy at Singapore Visitor Centres island-wide, including Orchard (junction of Cairnhill Road and Orchard Road), orchardgateway, ION Orchard (Level 1 Concierge), and Chinatown Visitor Centre (2 Banda Street), or download the digital version.