Over 80 events lined up for S’pore Art Week 2016

SINGAPORE — Three years since it was initiated to capitalise on the success of the annual art fair Art Stage Singapore, organisers of Singapore Art Week reckon it has finally “gained momentum and mindshare” among local and international art audiences.

Next year’s edition, its fourth, is set to be another feast for the eyes with more than 80 events lined up over nine days beginning on Jan 16.

A visual art initiative and “umbrella marketing effort” by the National Arts Council (NAC), in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Singapore Economic Development Board, the line-up includes exhibitions by top Singaporean and international artists, art tours and eye-catching public artworks.

“It’s the biggest celebration of the year in visual arts, and we want (Singapore) Art Week to be a key fixture in the art calendar,” said Mr Low Eng Teong, the NAC’s director for sector development (visual arts).

This year’s Art Stage Singapore drew 51,000 visitors in January; the rest of the lineup of 100 events drew around 75,000.

Mr Low said industry players have embraced Singapore Art Week’s branding, with local galleries now scheduling some of their important exhibitions around that time.

Some 18 galleries under the Art Galleries Association Singapore will hold a series of events in gallery clusters, including Raffles Hotel Arcade and the Old Hill Street Police Station.

The Singapore Art Week has been “an effective platform to encourage galleries to ‘step up to the plate’ and present the very best exhibitions and programmes while our visual arts organisations are activated across the island”, said Chan Hampe Galleries’ Ben Hampe, who is chairperson of the association’s planning and development committee. “(It) has also become a peak period for art sales, which is of paramount importance to our members.”

For the STB, it has served as a platform for the local arts community to showcase their works alongside those of international counterparts to foreign collectors and others in town.

Among the other highlights is National Gallery Singapore’s re-creation of contemporary artist Tang Da Wu’s 1980 show titled Earthworks, a series of installations and drawings that were his response to major construction works going on at the time.

Over at Gillman Barracks, there will be exhibitions on Andy Warhol’s Polaroid photographs and one by American artist Joan Jonas, who received a special mention award at this year’s Venice Biennale.

Three public artworks will be up around the Civic District as part of the Jubilee Walk heritage trail set to launch at the end of the month. Art enthusiasts can also drop by for an arts festival at Chinatown’s People’s Park Complex car park, go on a walking art tour of Little India, or hop on a bus tour of Singapore. Events showcasing traditional arts include the inaugural bilingual Chinese calligraphy forum.