SINGAPORE – Karaoke videos at Lucky Plaza, digital art in a pop-up “internet cafe” at Far East Shopping Centre and Indonesian artist and film-maker Riar Rizaldi’s work Mirage: Agape at the former Raffles Girls’ School. These are some of the varied locations for the Singapore Biennale 2025 (SB2025).
More than 100 artworks will be on view around the island from Oct 31 to March 29, 2026, as part of the contemporary art event, which ventures into everyday spaces such as strata malls, historic housing estates, as well as pre-colonial and colonial landmarks.
The works will be installed in four main areas – the Civic District, Rail Corridor and its surrounding spaces, Orchard and the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) at Tanjong Pagar Distripark.
The eighth edition of the biennale,
themed “pure intention”
, is organised by the SAM and commissioned by the National Arts Council (NAC).
In choosing the venues, the biennale’s quartet of curators from SAM – Duncan Bass, Hsu Fang-Tze, Ong Puay Khim and Selene Yap – wants to activate spaces that “are part of our daily rhythm”.
(From left) Singapore Art Museum curators Hsu Fang-Tze, Selene Yap, Duncan Bass and Ong Puay Khim will be leading the Singapore Biennale 2025.
PHOTO: SINGAPORE ART MUSEUM
The curators say in a Sept 1 statement: “By inviting diverse voices to respond to themes of rapid urban development, historical contradictions and speculative futures with pure intention, this edition unpacks Singapore’s multifaceted realities within global narratives.”
At a rental unit in Lucky Plaza – dubbed Singapore’s Little Manila – Filipino choreographer Eisa Jocson has been commissioned to collaborate with migrant worker rights group Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home) and Filipino domestic workers to present a series of interactive karaoke videos. It is one of more than 30 new commissions at the biennale.
Singaporean film-maker Tan Pin Pin will also present a two-channel video installation work at the Orchard Road mall. Tan, who has an ongoing public video artwork walk walk at Kampong Bahru Bus Terminal, tells The Straits Times: “I’m excited to create a work that can be stumbled upon as one traverses the escalators in a busy shopping centre.”
A still from film-maker Tan Pin Pin’s two-channel video installation work at Lucky Plaza as part of the Singapore Biennale 2025.
PHOTO: TAN PIN PIN
At Far East Shopping Centre – built in 1974 and the first mall to have an atrium and external escalators – Sri Lankan artist collective The Packet will put on a multimedia installation in the form of an internet cafe, which will feature both existing and commissioned works.
Other works include France-based Canadian artist Kapwani Kiwanga’s Flowers For Africa: Rwanda, which commemorates Rwanda’s independence in 1962 at the British-built Fort Gate in Fort Canning Park; an installation by Thai film-maker Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Singaporean artist Guo-Liang Tan at the Rail Corridor; and Singaporean artist Joo Choon Lin’s immersive performance installation at the market in Tanglin Halt, an estate which has transformed much in recent years due to redevelopment.
At Tanjong Pagar Distripark, one of the main venues for the biennale, expect a dialogue between contemporary artists and the big names of Singapore’s art history such as Liu Kang and Lim Yew Kuan. Perhaps especially relevant to
ongoing nationwide protests in Indonesia
, Indonesian art group Hyphen will also present “a constellation of artworks that trace alternative political narratives and citizen-led initiatives”.
closure of independent cinema The Projector
and Cathay Cineplexes ceasing operations, film lovers can look forward to curatorial contributor Asian Film Archive’s multidisciplinary project, featuring three newly commissioned installations and an experimental film programme, which is held in conjunction with its 20th anniversary.
Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, said in a statement that “Singaporeans will get to explore and enjoy the arts right where they live, work and play”.
The last edition of the Singapore Biennale –
controversially nicknamed Natasha
– took place in 2022 and featured works in far-flung locations like Lazarus Island.
Singaporeans can use the newly launched
SG Culture Pass credits
to buy tickets to the biennale.
Where: Various locations around Singapore
When: Oct 31 to March 29, 2026, various timings
Admission: For entry to Singapore Art Museum at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, $15 (Singaporeans and permanent residents) and $25 (foreigners); free entry for publicly accessible spaces across the city
Info:
www.singaporebiennale.org
