Singapore Art Museum’s (SAM) heritage buildings along Bras Basah Road may still be undergoing construction work, but locals need not fret, as SAM has and will continue to offer compelling content to keep contemporary art lovers satisfied.
Challenging the notion of a museum as a single physical space housing artworks for visitors, SAM has even announced a brand new direction, whereby the gallery brings art into everyday spaces with unique commissions, collaborations, experiences and more.
So what can you expect from these programmes? Well, plenty. For starters, audiences will be invited to participate in activations at SAM’s spaces, in the museum’s bid to involve the wider community in everyday art encounters.
Sam Lo, OUR FUTURE IS IN(CON)CLUSIVE, 2021, at the SAM hoarding along Queen Street; image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
Named the SAM Museum In Action (M.I.A) campaign, the first of these commissions will feature a collab with local artist Sam Lo, to unveil a new artwork on the museum’s hoarding at Queen Street titled Our Future is In(con)clusive. Upon the end of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), Singaporeans are encouraged to contribute by sticking over the letters “C”, “O” and “N” with their SAM stickers, creating a message of hope and inclusivity.
Local art enthusiasts will also be excited to know that SAM will soon be popping up at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, to take over an expansive industrial warehouse space with innovative and experimental art experiences.
Sited alongside other art galleries, conservators and art logistics providers in a historic district, SAM at TPD will be a key venue for SAM’s exhibitions and programmes come early 2022.
In fact, the opening show will be a presentation by The Observatory, which features elements such as a performative installation and an archival space. Apart from presenting bold and new exhibitions which are interdisciplinary and technologically driven in nature, the versatile space will also be able to host large-scale contemporary art installations and groups of visitors comfortably.
Finally, SAM will be actively showcasing art in other spaces in time to come, that includes The Gift exhibition at National Gallery Singapore (more on that later), the travelling SAM Mini Mobile Museum at public libraries in Jurong, Tampines and Woodlands, and artwork commissions by Kray Chen and Sam Lo at the SAM hoardings along Bras Basah Road and Queen Street.
The lengthy redevelopment of SAM’s beloved premises has got nothing on the gallery’s incredible plans and programmes.
More information available here.
