MAKING ART PUBLIC: Mapping the Social History of Early Contemporary Artists in Singapore (1976–1996)

This research investigates the emergence of contemporary art in Singapore from 1976 to 1996, mapping the social history of artists who shaped the local art scene during this formative period. It examines how artists navigated shifting cultural policies, institutional structures, and alternative spaces to develop practices that challenged artistic norms and expanded the role of art in public life.

Performativity in Public Space: Tang Da Wu’s Artistic Interventions

From 1979 to 1995, Tang Da Wu’s performances in public spaces and institutions like the National Museum Art Gallery (NMAG) redefined artistic engagement with urban life. Works such as Earth Work and Life Boat interrogated themes of publicness, environmental awareness, and the artist’s “right to the city.” His interventions disrupted conventional notions of space and spectatorship, fostering alternative modes of artistic and civic engagement.

Art, the Archive, and Memory: Koh Nguang How’s Singapore Art Archive Project (SAAP)

Koh Nguang How’s Singapore Art Archive Project (SAAP) plays a crucial role in preserving and reinterpreting Singapore’s contemporary art history. By documenting artists’ works, exhibitions, and archival materials, SAAP functions as both a repository and a living artwork that reactivates forgotten narratives. This research examines the performative nature of archiving, considering how SAAP influences contemporary understandings of art, public space, and collective memory.

Dialogues and Social Engagement in Singapore’s Art History

The Artists Village (TAV), founded in 1988, was instrumental in fostering collaboration and public dialogue through experimental projects such as The Open Studio Shows and A Sculpture Seminar. These initiatives challenged conventional exhibition formats, emphasizing process, participation, and site-specific engagement. This research explores how artists working within and beyond institutions like NMAG and The Substation developed new forms of artistic and social interaction, reshaping Singapore’s cultural discourse.

sungei.net Projects (2016): Urban Memory and Intangible Heritage

The sungei.net projects explore urban memory, the concept of Tabula Rasa, and the erasure of intangible heritage through collaborative art-making. The first project, One By One Metre Space, centered on Sungei Road Flea Market, a historically significant yet overlooked site facing displacement.

By pairing artists unfamiliar with the space alongside community members deeply connected to it, the project generated new artistic and social engagements. The “1 x 1 m space” referred both to the vendors’ allocated areas and broader issues of land ownership, displacement, and community resilience. Through artistic intervention, the project examined the tensions between urban renewal and historical continuity, highlighting the fragility of cultural memory in rapidly evolving cityscapes.