Singapore Art Week 2019 at SAM: An Exciting Curation of Exhibitions, Outdoor Screenings, and Poetic Gallery Tours

PUBLISHED January 15th, 2019 11:40 am | UPDATED June 3rd, 2020 12:15 am

What do you think of when you think about Art? Does the Mona Lisa come to mind? A performative piece? Or perhaps something minimalistic? While the profound nature of art might not be everyone’s cup of tea, Singapore Art Week has remained at the forefront of Singapore’s contemporary art scene to make art accessible for all audiences. From poetry sessions to outdoor film screenings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, especially at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM):

SAM Late Nights

If you’re looking for something new to do on your Friday night out, why not spend it at SAM Late Nights? A laidback event with live music by local bands Mannequins, The Groove Gurus, and Bakers In Space, there’ll be great food and drinks under the cool museum canopy too. Not only is the event free, but participants can also continue to enjoy free after-hours access to SAM’s ongoing exhibition, the President’s Young Talents 2018.

SAM Late Nights is happening at SAM at 8Q Plaza on 18 January 2019 from 7pm – 10pm. Admission is Free.

President’s Young Talents Exhibition and Related Programs

Singapore’s only mentoring, commissioning, and awards programme, the President’s Young Talents Exhibition recognises promising artists aged 35 and below. This year’s top five artists include Yanyun Chen, featuring her work The scars that write us (2018), Weixin Quek Chong’s sft crsh ctrl (2018), Debbie Ding’s Soil Works (2018), Hilmi Johandi’s An Exposition (2018), and Zarina Muhammad’s Pragmatic Prayers for the Kala at the Threshold (2018).

President’s Young Talents Exhibition is happening at SAM at 8Q from 4 October 2018 – 27 January 2019 from 10am–7pm (Saturdays to Thursdays) and 10am–9pm (Fridays). Museum entry is free for all during Singapore Art Week 2019.

Visual art aside, the programme also allows visitors to experience poetry, and to learn more about movie magic. Poets Manickavasagan Ashmita, Christine Chia, Chua Poh Leng, Shivram Gopinath, and Charlene Shepherdson will take you through the various topics and themes presented in the President’s Young Talents 2018 exhibition through live readings of multilingual poetry, written in response to the artworks while Makeup Maestro’s lead artist, Valda will teach you more about  scars, wounds, and states of healing in gory Hollywood film. Give her hands-on workshop a try; it’s an opportunity to create realistic wounds using household products and special effects modelling wax!

Art and Poetry is happening at SAM at 8Q Lobby on 19 January 2019 from 5pm – 6pm. Tour is free by registration here. Online registration closes 12pm, 19 January 2019, walk-ins on actual event day are subject to availability.

Special Effects Makeup Workshop is happening at SAM at 8Q, Workshop Space 2, Level 2. Tickets are priced at $30, get yours here.

Movie Screenings Under the Stars

To further spice up your Friday evenings, enjoy a movie courtesy of the SAM under the stars. Sing along to the ever-addictive hit songs of The Greatest Showman and enjoy a throwback to the olden days of Singapore in the 1940s with It’s a Great, Great World on 25 January. Directed by Kelvin Tong, it’s a movie that rekindles nostalgic memories surrounding one of Singapore’s famed amusement parks.

Outdoor Movie Screenings is happening at SAM at 8Q Plaza. The Greatest Showman will be screened on 19 January 2019 from 8pm – 10pm. It’s a Great, Great World will be screened on 25 January from 8pm – 9.30pm. Admission is free.

On the Stranger Side of Things: SAM Community Carnival

Take a walk on the stranger side of life with Kult, as they take you on an immersive, fun and interactive journey at the SAM Community Carnival. Challenge your friends to a life-sized board game or interact with projections using props – which you’re invited to create – and immerse yourself in a surprising theatre performance experience like no other.

SAM Community Carnival is happening at SAM at 8Q on 20 January 2019 from 11am – 6pm. Admission is free.

Singapore Biennale 2019 Teaser Programmes

Catch a sneak peek into the Singapore Biennale 2019 (which is opening in November 2019) with the teaser programmes lined up during Singapore Art Week. Join Singapore Biennale 2019 artist Dennis Tan and SAM Curator John Tung in conversation, as they dive into the reasons and impetus behind the former’s work – rebuilding a traditional fishing boat, the Kolek, and sailing it to the Riau Islands. Examine the cultural, anthropological, and historical implications of reviving this traditional sport.

Alternatively, Singapore Biennale 2019 artist Vandy Rattana is presenting his moving image works MONOLOGUE and Funeral, focused on Khmer people that explore themes of loss, trauma, death and the afterlife, on the same day. Stick around for a post-screening conversation with Vandy, and SAM Curator, Andrea Fam, where they discuss the artist’s technical and philosophical approach to art-making.

In Conversation with Dennis Tan is happening at SAM at 8Q, Plaza, on 26 January at 4pm. Admission is free with registration here.

Screening and Conversation with Vandy Rattana is happening at SAM at 8Q, Moving Image Gallery, Level 2, on 26 January, 5pm – 6pm (screening) and 6pm – 7pm (Conversation). Admission is free with registration here.

Top Image: Zarina Muhammad’s Closing Performance, courtesy of Singapore Art Museum