What To See At Singapore Contemporary Art Show 2017

If the inaugural edition of Singapore Contemporary Art Show last year is any indication, the 2017 show – which takes place next week from 19 to 22 January – is going to be yet another spectacular event. Spread over 6000 square meters at the Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, this year will see more than 90 galleries and artists (including some of the globe’s most interesting ones) making a return to showcase works, give talks, and more.

Art collectors and enthusiasts, here’s what to look out for:

Photo17 Singapore

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Stormy Weather 16 by Eiichiro Sakata

Calling all photographers – Singapore Contemporary will be introducing its first curated platform dedicated to documentary, fine art, mixed media installations, and conceptual photography from the world over, promoting photography as an artistic and expressive art form that stands on its own. Curator Patricia de la Motte (The Art Market and Photography: The Challenges of a New Art Medium) and Spanish photo artist Xavier Comas (When Photography Becomes Art) are just two of the many industry experts who’ll be presenting talks on the subject.

Artist Dialogues & Daily Painting Demonstrations
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Ever wondered why an artist paints they way the paint? Back by popular demand during the first Singapore Contemporary, this is your chance to meet the artists in person and even catch them in action performing live demonstrations. Learn about the story behind the art, their motivations and inspirations (or otherwise), and about the techniques and tools used to create their award-winning works.

Dive into the human psyche with Malaysia’s Charlotte Donvang and her vibrant expressions; discover miniature worlds in pen and ink with Jeff Murray (UK); explore fantasy landscapes with iconic album cover artist Roger Dean (UK); and uncover the meaning of the enso circle in Zen Buddhism with Thailand’s Samran Cheupan, among others of course.

Please register at the Live Painting Demonstrations counter at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

China Encounters

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Infinite Boundaries 12无边有界12 by Zhang Yang

Also making a comeback is China Encounters, an intriguing series exhibiting works by select galleries, artists, and collectives themed around the Chinese cultural and historical landscape. See the world’s third largest country revisited, redefined, and reinterpreted through a contemporary Chinese perspective by well-known and famous artists in China, as well as emerging up-and-coming artists who are no less when it comes to talent and sky.

Latin American Voices

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Identidad fragil by Ignacio Poblet

Take a look at works that capture the heart and soul of the Americas at “Latin American Voices”, a special exhibition spread across 244 square meters of curated space. Showcasing more than 25 artists from across Latin America including Peru, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico and Chile, it’s indeed a stunning array of Latin American art.

Gallery Art Tours
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Got kids and don’t know where to take them? The Macey & Sons Kids Art Studio, in partnership with Little Artists and acclaimed Italian artist Franceso Lietti, will be offering enriching art tours for little ones aged three to eleven years, where they engage in supervised painting, drawing, and other art projects.

You parents can either join in or leave them (don’t worry, they’re in good hands) to embark on your own art tours – qualified docents will lead you through a ‘World of Art’ as you traverse Hidden China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, and much more.


The scope of Singapore Contemporary includes original paintings, limited editions, sculpture and photography pieces, as well as video and digital art from career artists, typically priced from $10,000 to $100,000 and up.

Singapore Contemporary Art Show 2017 is happening from 19 to 22 January 2017 at L4 Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. 3-Day passes ($48) and Day passes ($25) can be purchased here. For more information, check out the official website here.


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Deputy Editor

Gary is one of those proverbial jack of all trades… you know the rest. When not writing about lifestyle and culture, he dabbles in photography, graphic design, plays four instruments and is a professional wearer of bowties. His greatest weakness: spending more money on clothes than he probably should. Find him across the social world as @grimlay