Source: Art Stage Singapore.
Art Stage Singapore, the leading art fair in Southeast Asia, will take place from January 21st to 24th, 2016, with a preview day on January 20th. This year’s event aims to showcase a new perspective on contemporary art from the region, highlighting the fair’s role in its development.
The sixth edition of Art Stage Singapore draws inspiration from ancient gathering places like the Roman Forum and the Greek Agora, aiming to be a hub for the exchange of both art and ideas. Lorenzo Rudolf, the founder and president of Art Stage Singapore, emphasizes the fair’s commitment to expanding awareness and understanding of contemporary art’s significance within society, believing that a thriving art scene and an informed public are essential for a robust art market. He sees Art Stage Singapore as crucial in fostering an active art ecosystem that encourages discussion, debate, and curiosity within Southeast Asia.
This year, Art Stage Singapore will introduce the Southeast Asia Forum, a program designed to emphasize the interconnectedness of art, commerce, and content. Building on the foundation of the Southeast Asia Platform exhibitions held in 2014 and 2015, the Forum offers a focused exploration of global issues impacting the region. This initiative underscores the vital role of contemporary art in modern society and the artist’s position within Southeast Asia. Going beyond purely artistic dialogue, the Forum aims to engage with contemporary art on a broader level.
The inaugural Southeast Asia Forum, titled “Seismograph: Sensing the City - Art In the Urban Age,” will explore how cities influence not only our physical surroundings and interactions but also our roles, functions, ideas, beliefs, and identities through an exhibition and a series of talks. The talk series will delve into the challenges of urbanization and explore new ways to envision cities, while the exhibition will examine the artist’s role in the development of contemporary Southeast Asian societies. Ten featured projects will highlight artists engaging with the rapid urbanization of their respective countries. Participating artists include Aliansyah Caniago from Indonesia, Norberto Roldan from the Philippines, and Sherman Ong from Singapore.
Source: Art Stage Singapore. Titik Balik by Aliansyah Caniago, Indonesia. Image copyright and courtesy of the artist.
Aliansyah Caniago’s “Titik Balik” (point of no return), initiated in 2012, responds to the environmental and cultural degradation of Situ Ciburuy, a lakeside town near Bandung, Indonesia. Once thriving on fishing, Situ Ciburuy has faced pollution due to factory waste, leading to the decline of its fishing industry and traditional way of life. Caniago’s project involves “rescuing” abandoned fishing boats and bringing them back to life. He drags them through Bandung City to raise awareness of the town’s fading heritage. These participatory performances, lasting around eight to nine hours, involve locals and artists in an effort to revitalize and regenerate the community. Caniago’s installation at the exhibition features one such boat and a video documenting the performance.
Norberto Roldan’s “100 Altars” honors the simple community life that existed in the Philippines after World War II. Sherman Ong will present selections from his ongoing project “Nusantara” which interweaves folklore from the Indonesian archipelago with modern issues of migration and diaspora.
Art Stage Singapore will host 143 galleries from 32 countries and 30 cities, with approximately 75% (112) based in Asia. Participating galleries hail from Australia, mainland China, Indonesia, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the UAE. This year sees the return of 67 galleries including Artinformal (Philippines), ARNDT (Singapore), FOST Gallery (Singapore), Ota Fine Arts (Singapore), Pearl Lam Galleries (Hong Kong/Singapore), Richard Koh Fine Art (Malaysia), ShanghART Gallery (China/Singapore), Tomio Koyama Gallery (Japan/Singapore), Singapore Tyler Print Institute (Singapore), and Sundaram Tagore Gallery (Singapore) alongside 65 first-time participants, including Aspan Gallery (Kazakhstan), Gallery Ward (UAE), Hafez Gallery (Saudi Arabia), Martin Browne Contemporary (Australia), Mo J Gallery (South Korea), and X-ist (Turkey).
Notable artists from the region will also be exhibiting their work. Singaporean artists David Chan, Ruben Pang, Donna Ong, Jane Lee, and Jimmy Ong will be featured. Malaysia will be represented by Shooshie Sulaiman and Ali Nurazmal Yusoff, while Indonesia’s contingent includes Mujahidin Nurrahman, Kinez Riza, and Syagini Ratna Wulan. The Philippines will be represented by artists such as Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, Ronald Ventura, and Raybeet Ramos.
Public art installations will be on display throughout the fair. “Dada on Tour” is a multimedia installation commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Dada art movement in 2016. Visitors can enter a “nomadic” tent and engage with the work of 165 Dadaists, such as Jean Arp, Hugo Ball, Marcel Janco, Andre Breton, Marcel Duchamp, Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, Francis Picabia, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, and Tristan Tzara. At the entrance, Thai artist Ploenchan Vinyaratn (Mook)’s “Netscape”, created with her signature handwoven textiles, will greet visitors. A large-scale sculpture by Spanish artist Manolo Valdes will also be on view as part of the public art program.
Art Stage Singapore introduces “CATALYST” this year, a new resource guide for galleries, art collectors, and industry professionals offering insights into the Southeast Asian art market. CATALYST’s core feature will be independently written Market Reports providing information about major art markets and scenes within Southeast Asia. In addition, it will showcase commissioned essays, interviews, profiles, and event highlights, reflecting Art Stage Singapore’s engagement with the art scenes in Asia and Southeast Asia.
Art Stage Singapore 2016, a key event of Singapore Art Week, will run from January 21st to 24th, 2016, at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6fzuoz6vut1x6gq/AABS9ookQrMwMGdLHpMXFzhLa?dl=0
All artwork images are credited to the specific galleries representing the artists and the remaining images are credited to Art Stage Singapore.