Artist Alan Oei is The Substation’s new artistic director

SINGAPORE — Some 10 months after its previous artistic director, Noor Effendy Ibrahim stepped down, The Substation yesterday announced that Alan Oei would be its new artistic director. Oei is only the fifth person to hold the position in the art centre’s 25-year history.

“Since its founding by Kuo Pao Kun, The Substation is a space where so many of us have our first significant encounters with art,” said Oei, who added that he was “deeply humbled and honoured” to be entrusted with the artistic vision of The Substation, which has a number of well-established in-house core programmes, such as Moving Images and the Associate Artist Programme, that act as critical platforms for emerging and established artists.

“As a former associate artist, I have been provided many opportunities here. It’s my duty to ensure that other artists can be equally supported and challenged,” he said. “In this time when the State and market dominate art practice and discourse, it is imperative that the Substation provides an alternative re-imagining of Singapore’s cultural conversations.”

Oei’s work and projects in the visual arts have often involved the intersection of art history and politics. As a curator, the former artistic director of Sculpture Square has organised shows such as Blackout (2009), a concept art exhibition where visitors navigate in the dark; and Campaign City (2013), an exhibition that tips its hat to Singapore’s national campaigns.

His artistic works have been exhibited in group shows and solo exhibitions, most recently in The End Of History, a performance-exhibition at the Arts House in 2013. Oei will remain executive director of OH! Open House, a popular arts walkabout which he founded in 2009.

As Singapore’s first independent, multidisciplinary arts centre, The Substation is also known for its pioneering and experimental arts programming, working as an incubator for Singaporean artists.

Substation chairman Chew Kheng Chuan said: “In our discussions with Alan, we were impressed by the strength and clarity of his vision for The Substation. As a former associate artist, Alan has an intimate understanding of The Substation’s spirit as a home for the arts. This, coupled with his extensive experience in working with the arts community, gave us added belief that he will be able to retain the essence of The Substation while steering it in a new and exciting direction with a focus on public engagement.”