Calling all culture vultures. These art exhibitions in Singapore are right up your alley!
2023 has been treating us with myriad activities what with new restaurants, cafes and bars to hit, and things to do. How about the art scene, you ask? Well, it’s safe to say we’ve got you. Bookmark this page, art enthusiasts. We’ll be updating regularly with exciting art exhibitions in Singapore throughout the year.
Singapore’s top art exhibitions in 2023
1. Proof Of Personhood: Identity and Authenticity in the Face of Artificial Intelligence
Until 25 February 2024
How do you define the concept of identity in the modern world? This exhibition explores human identity and authenticity in the digital age, featuring works by local and international artists. Using advanced technology, the artworks engage with AI-synthesised images, biometric data, and interactive software to question the impact of technologies on contemporary life.
Notable works include Cécile B. Evans’ trilogy of films, Christopher Kulendran Thomas’ show-within-a-show, and Heather Dewey-Hagborg’s Radical Love. The exhibition also delves into the politics of pattern recognition with “im here to learn so :))))))” by Zach Blas and Jemima Wyman, featuring the infamous AI chatbot Tay. Singaporean artists Charmaine Poh and Song-Ming Ang contribute works exploring avatar creation and the musical practice of “sampling.”
Proof Of Personhood, Level 3, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road, Singapore 089065
2. Mars: The Red Mirror
Until 7 April 2024
Experience a cosmic journey at ArtScience Museum as it transports you through time and space. The exhibition, previously wowing audiences in Spain, unfolds the captivating tale of Mars over 12,000 years. Brace yourself for an interstellar adventure featuring ancient cultural interpretations, sci-fi tales (hello, War of the Worlds!), and contemporary artistic marvels.
From a four-metre inflatable Martian sculpture to AI-generated astronaut images, each exhibit promises a unique perspective on the Red Planet. While you won’t be getting a crash course in Martian rocket science, you’re in for a treat with curated tours, films, and family-friendly activities.
Mars: The Red Mirror, ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
3. Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America
Until 24 March 2024
Set foot into the first-of-its-kind, large-scale exhibition showcasing stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America at the National Gallery Singapore. Spanning the 20th century, Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America delves into surprising similarities between the two regions during tumultuous times of the past. With more than 200 artworks, expect the likes of sculptures, sensorial installations, ‘floating’ easels, wearable art and more. It’s a chance to peer into the minds and hearts of 75 renowned artists, including cultural icons such as Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Patrick Ng and Latiff Mohidin.
From the special interactive zone ‘Library of the Tropics’ to the self-portrait gallery ‘This Earth of Mankind’, each gallery distinctly portrays how these artists challenged conventions and fostered solidarities amid colonial times. Our most intriguing pick? Helio Oiticica’s Tropicalia. Made out of materials like wooden structures, gravel and plants, this immersive installation stands up against societal norms, prompting viewers to question traditional concepts of art and life.
Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America, City Hall Wing, Level 3, Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery and multiple locations around National Gallery Singapore
4. The World Beyond by Dong Lee
Until 2 January 2024
Get ready for a visual feast that celebrates the essence of life in every stroke. The World Beyond delves into the literal and metaphorical meaning of celebration. Uncover the soulful narratives and creative twists that breathe life into cityscapes and diverse cultures across Asia. Meet visionaries like Miao Yao Sheng from China, the local maestro Ma Pak Loong, the brilliant Chua Zin Yan, and the soulful storyteller Harshita Agarwal from India.
The World Beyond by Dong Lee, #04-01, OCBC Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
5. S.E.A. Focus 2024
20 to 28 January 2024
The leading showcase and art market hub which puts Southeast Asian contemporary art in the spotlight returns for its sixth appearance in January. Titled “Serial and Massively Parallel,” the curated showcase features artworks from 22 galleries and over 40 global artists. This exhibition explores the fusion of Southeast Asian influences and digital advancements.
Curated by John Tung, known for his extensive work with institutions like the Singapore Art Museum, it poses questions about creativity in a digital age. With names like Aiman, Poklong Anading, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Mella Jaarsma, and Tan Zi Hao, the exhibition promises diverse perspectives. Alongside the main showcase, S.E.A. Focus 2024 brings back signature programs like SEAspotlight Talks for insightful discussions and Off Focus, a curated film screening collaboration with Objectifs.
S.E.A. Focus 2024, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road, Singapore 089065
6. Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas
Until 17 March 2024
This exhibition dives into a centuries-old trade route connecting Asia, the Americas, and Europe. Imagine Spanish ships loaded with treasures sailing annually from Manila to Acapulco, exchanging porcelain, silk, spices, and more for millions of silver pieces. Explore over 140 extraordinary artworks from the 16th to 20th century, unveiling the shared cultural heritage shaped by people, goods, and ideas circulating between Manila and Mexico City. Discover Manila’s influence as a precursor to Singapore, showcasing the unique blend of societies in global port cities that have shaped our world.
Manila Galleon: From Asia to the Americas, Special Exhibitions Gallery on Level 2, Shaw Foyer on Level 2 and Contemporary Gallery on Level 1, Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
7. Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger
Until 3 March 2024
Get ready for a wild ride through two decades of artistic brilliance with Singapore’s own Ho Tzu Nyen. This art exhibition takes you through Ho’s impressive artistry including paintings, films, performances, and video installations. Ho’s creations are like a cultural kaleidoscope, blending history, myths, and identities into a mesmerising tapestry. Don’t miss out on the newest gem, T for Time, a two-channel video installation that dives deep into the quirky and diverse dance of time.
Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger, Gallery 1 & 2, SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road, Singapore 089065
8. Liu Kuo-Sung: Experimentation as Method
Until 25 February 2024
National Gallery Singapore is extending Liu Kuo-sung’s exhibition, “Experimentation as Method,” for an additional two months until 25 February 2024. Showcasing seven decades of the renowned ink artist’s career, the retrospective highlights Liu’s trailblazing experimentation and fusion of traditional Chinese and Western art methods.
With over 60 paintings and 150 items from the artist’s archive, the exhibition explores Liu’s significant contributions to modern Chinese ink painting. Explore his innovative practices, including the development of Liu Kuo-sung paper for texture effects. Notable works include “Dance of Ink,” “Coming,” and “Snowscapes Reaching Beyond the Clouds”.
Liu Kuo-Sung: Experimentation as Method, City Hall Wing, Level 4 Gallery and the Wu Guanzhong Gallery, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore 178957
9. ACM and Anima Mundi: Chinese Christian art from the Vatican Museums
Until 31 December 2023
Get a glimpse of lesser-known treasures of Christian art made in Asia. This exhibit at the Asian Civilisations Museum gets you up close and personal. Admire how the Catholic church integrates traditional Asian elements into its pieces, showcasing the ingenuity of Asian artisans and craftsmen. The art incorporates foreign aesthetics and ideas to appeal to local audiences. It’s complemented by existing displays from Singapore’s National Collection. What a show of religious harmony and tolerance amid diverse faiths around the world.
ACM and Anima Mundi: Chinese Christian art from the Vatican Museums, Level 2, Christian Art Gallery, 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
10. LKY100: The Life and Legacy of Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015)
Until 31 December 2023
The National Museum of Singapore celebrates our founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew’s 100th birthday with a new 5-minute film called LKY100. Local filmmaker Royston Tan created this tribute to our founding PM, highlighting his incredible contributions to our nation. You can catch this touching and inspiring film at the museum’s Singapore History Gallery and also on the digital trail. It’s a powerful collage of Mr Lee’s key speeches, showing how he shaped our modern city. Don’t skip the digital trail which is an interactive augmented on-site experience that captures the historical and contemporary significance of our founding PM.
LKY100: The Life and Legacy of Lee Kuan Yew (1923–2015), National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Road, Singapore 178897
11. {still} life by Space Objekt
Until 9 March 2025
Get ready to experience {still} life, a mind-bending exhibition that will turn your perspective upside down – literally! Reflective surfaces of all shapes and sizes invite you to take a peek and venture into a world of unexpected encounters. Look down, and you’ll find yourself gazing at the sky; look up, and behold the ground beneath your feet. These cleverly positioned mirrors act as picture frames, unveiling the stark contrasts between the old and the new, the natural and the manmade, the public and the private. You’ll be drawn closer to the hidden gems and forgotten treasures, as the past comes alive in the present. {still} life captures the essence of Singapore’s urban spirit, where history and innovation collide in a whirlwind of views that will leave you in awe.
{still} life by Space Objekt, Duxton Plain Park, Entrance at Yan Kit Road, Public outdoor work, New Bridge Road, Singapore 089140
12. Textile Masters to the World: The Global Desire for Indian Cloth
Ongoing
Get ready for Textile Masters to the World: The Global Desire for Indian Cloth, where exquisite garments and fabrics will transport you from India to the farthest corners of the world and back again. Step into the Fashion and Textiles Gallery and be dazzled by 27 breathtaking pieces that carry the historic legacy of Indian textile production. From the 14th to 19th century, these fabrics were like cultural ambassadors, traversing continents and creating connections between India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe!
You’re also getting an exclusive look as these textile treasures haven’t been showcased in over a decade. Prepare to be enchanted as the showcase reveals trade, fashion, furnishing, gift exchanges, and cherished heirlooms.
Textile Masters to the World: The Global Desire for Indian Cloth, Fashion and Textiles Gallery, L3, Asian Civilisations Museum 1 Empress Place, Singapore 179555
13. Future World: Where Art Meets Science
Ongoing
We know that just about everyone’s been to this IG-worthy permanent exhibition at ArtScience Museum. And for good reason! We’re happy to report that they’ve upgraded the space with new works. In collaboration with the international art collective teamLab, the museum now offers three new installations. The new collection is titled Exploring New Frontiers. You’ll find interactive artworks that move and change as you explore. We don’t wanna spoil it for you, so discover the excitement for yourself at the museum!
Future World: Where Art Meets Science, ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
14. Museum of Ice Cream
Ongoing
We scream for ice cream! The lush enclave of Dempsey is home to the world-famous Museum of Ice Cream. Originating from New York City, the museum is known for its interactive, ‘gram-friendly exhibits. The Singapore outpost features 14 never-before-seen installations. Start at the sprinkle pool before exploring a pink and yellow jungle filled with 10,000 bananas. And what’s a museum about ice cream without the icy treat? As you’re guided through the pastel wonderland, you’ll be treated to unique ice cream treats.
Museum of Ice Cream, 100 Loewen Road, Singapore 248837
Get your dose of art and culture at these art exhibitions in Singapore!