November Round-Up

Affordable Art Fair, Galerie Stephanie, Julius Baer, Mizuma Gallery, Patani Artspace, RKFA, Sa Sa Art Projects
By Vivyan Yeo

Han Sai Por, ‘Seascape’, 2022, acrylic paint on STPI casted paper, 125 x 156.5 x 3cm. © Han Sai Por / STPI. Image courtesy of the artist and STPI.

SG Gallery Weekend

Presented by the Art Galleries Association Singapore (AGAS), the second edition of SG Gallery Weekend returns with 15 participating galleries. They are grouped into three area clusters: ‘Gillman’, ‘City’ and ‘Periphery’. At the Periphery cluster, highlights include a visit to Cultural Medallion recipient Han Sai Por’s studio at Goodman Art Centre by STPI – Creative Workshop and Gallery and a solo exhibition of Indonesian artist Yunizar at Gajah Gallery, coupled with a book launch. Visitors can also catch a variety of presentations by Sundaram Tagore Gallery, Mizuma Gallery, Ota Fine Arts, FOST Gallery, Yavuz Gallery and Yeo Workshop in the Gillman cluster; Ode to Art, artcommune gallery, Alliance Française, Cuturi Gallery and Gallery 1819 within the City cluster; as well as Art Porters and Art Seasons for the Periphery cluster.

SG Gallery Weekend runs from 26 to 27 November 2022 at multiple locations. Click here for more information.

Arlyn de Jesus, ‘Fragments’, 2022, mixed media on canvas, 30 x 30cm. Image courtesy of Studio Fine Art Gallery.

Affordable Art Fair Singapore

The 15th edition of the Affordable Art Fair returns to Singapore after a three-year hiatus at the F1 Pit Building. It features over 650 artists from 80 local and international galleries, such as Art Forum, Utterly Art and Studio Fine Art from Singapore, La Lanta Fine Art from Bangkok, The Tolman Collection Tokyo from Japan, Quantum Contemporary Art from London, and more. Highlights include artworks by Singapore pioneer artist Cheo Chai Hiang, Indonesian sculptor Adi Gunawan and emerging Chinese artist Wanlin Jiang. Spotlighting the fun and approachable side of art, the fair also includes over 20 art workshops for both children and adults. 

Affordable Art Fair Singapore runs from 18 to 20 November at the F1 Pit Building, Singapore. Click here for more information.

Leang Seckon, ‘Phnom Penh Environment Change’, 2022, collage, 59 x 69cm. Image courtesy of Sa Sa Art Projects.

Sa Sa Fundraising Auction & Exhibition 2022

Showcasing nearly 100 contemporary artworks, Sa Sa Art Projects presents its biannual fundraising auction and exhibition to sustain its education programmes, exhibitions and public projects that contribute to Cambodia’s vibrant art scene. The initiative features paintings, photographs, sculptures and videos by prominent Cambodian artists such as Khvay Samnang, Leng Seckon, Sopheap Pich and Svay Ken, and Southeast Asian practitioners like Mit Jai Inn from Thailand, Moe Satt from Myanmar and Zen Teh from Singapore. While 43 artworks are featured in the online auction, 48 works by Cambodian artists are available for sale at FT Gallery in Factory Phnom Penh.

‘Sa Sa Fundraising Auction & Exhibition 2022’ runs from 20 October to 10 November 2022. The physical exhibition takes place at FT Gallery in Factory Phnom Penh, and the online auction can be accessed here.

Ezzam Rahman, detail of ‘let it be known to you that i am trying - 1’, 2022, artist’s skin, used anti-inflammatory plaster, threaded wire, ball bearing, porcelain bowl, adhesive, epoxy resin, glass cloche, and LED light box, 51 x 35 x 35cm. Image courtesy of Mizuma Gallery.

Beyond Painting

Curated by Hermanto Soerjanto, ‘Beyond Painting’ at Mizuma Gallery pays tribute to the limitless media and methods explored by Southeast Asian artists. Viewing contemporary art as an ideology of openness and diversity, Soerjanto foregrounds unorthodox media and conventional materials used in unexpected ways. They include traditional weaving techniques by Alexander Sebastianus and Ari Bayuaji, sculptures made of human skin and used plasters by Ezzam Rahman, time-lapse photography by Dawn Ng, acrylic paint reliefs by Kanchana Gupta and three-dimensional paper works by Widi Pangestu. 

‘Beyond Painting’ runs from 15 October to 13 November 2022 at Mizuma Gallery, Singapore. Click here for more information.

Regina Reyes, ‘Observations of Sunset’, 2022, mixed media collage on paper, 30.5 x 22.8cm. Image courtesy of Galerie Stephanie.

Notes on Surrender & Sandali

Galerie Stephanie presents two solo exhibitions by Filipino artists. ‘Notes on Surrender’ features paintings, drawings and mixed media collages by Regina Reyes, who moved to the city of Gensan during the pandemic. Combining soft brushstrokes and sharp photographs, she explores fantastical and factual experiences around her journey into the unknown. Exhibiting concurrently is Eugene Dominguez’s ‘Sandali’, whose title means ‘a pause’ in Tagalog. Curated by Liv Vinluan, the selection of diptychs depict solitary human figures having a quiet moment of rest in domestic environments. 

‘Notes on Surrender’ and ‘Sandali’ run from 3 to 17 November 2022 at Galerie Stephanie, Mandaluyong City, Philippines. Click here for more information. 

Justin Lim, ‘A daydream a day’, 2022, acrylic on canvas, 91.5 x 175cm. Image courtesy of Richard Koh Fine Art Bangkok.

A daydream a day

Malaysian artist Justin Lim's solo exhibition at Richard Koh Fine Art Bangkok is an ode to slow contemplation in the fast-moving world. Titled 'A daydream a day', the collection of acrylic paintings spotlights the chair as a symbol of solace and struggle in everyday life. His illustrated chairs are made of diverse materials and placed in various environments, revealing clues related to class and hierarchy. Lim composed his backgrounds by splicing together different photographs. Ambivalent and unreliable, they are reflective of today's ever-changing modern landscape. 

‘A daydream a day’ runs from 5 to 26 November 2022 at Richard Koh Fine Art Bangkok, Thailand. Click here for more information.

Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize. Image courtesy of Julius Baer.

Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize

Returning for its second edition, the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize is open to artists residing in Southeast Asia, India and Greater China. It invites concept proposals in specialised digital media such as video, generative art, graphic illustration, interactive art, and augmented or virtual reality. Aiming to discover young talents across Asia, the prize will award six winners with a cash prize and a place in a three-month art and tech accelerator programme run by The MeshMinds Foundation. The panel of judges includes new media artist and designer Refik Anadol, Singaporean artist Shubigi Rao, Theresa McCullough, Principal Curator at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore and more. 

Entries for the Julius Baer Next Generation Art Prize are open from 19 October to 27 November 2022. Click here for more information.

Muhammadsuriyee Masu, ‘The bitterness in Patani’, 2022, dimensions variable. Image courtesy of Anuwat Apimukmongkon and Patani Artspace.

Kenduri Seni Nusantara

Organised by Patani Artspace and curated by Anuwat Apimukmongkon, ‘Kenduri Seni Nusantara’ centres on the theme of “Overlapping Land”. The old Javanese term “Nusantara” refers to territories ruled under the Majapahit empire over 500 years ago. It is also the name of Indonesia’s new capital city, slated to be built by 2024.  Echoing how geographical boundaries are constantly shifted and renamed, ‘Kenduri Seni Nusantara’ takes place in various venues such as urban art spaces, forests and rice fields. With reflections and inquiries by over 50 artists, the festival explores the historical overlap of societies, religions, ethnicities and genders across Southeast Asia.

‘Kenduri Seni Nusantara 2022’ runs from 13 August to 30 November 2022 at Patani Visual Art Gallery, ETAM Gallery, Kampongku, Patex Factory, Pattani Garden Arts Space and Patani Artspace in Pattani, Thailand. Click here for more information.