ArtScience Museum opens a portal to extraordinary new worlds
New Eden uncovers fresh perspectives on science fiction through the lens of Asian women artists and collectives
A journey to alternative realms awaits visitors at ArtScience Museum’s latest major contemporary art exhibition, New Eden: Science Fiction Mythologies Transformed. Making its global premiere on 21 October, the exhibition will uncover new perspectives on the genre of science fiction by presenting 24 women artists and collectives from Asia, whose works have been inspired by the region’s history and cultures.
Curated by ArtScience Museum, New Eden weaves together narratives found in the Western literary and cinematic genre of science fiction, with ideas rooted in Eastern spiritual traditions that have evolved over millennia. It finds synchrony between speculative ideas in science fiction and concepts embedded in Asian spiritual frameworks such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism and Shintoism, alongside other diverse belief systems of Southeast Asia.
The exhibition also confronts the historically Western and male-dominated genre of sciencefiction, foregrounding the diverse voices of women including Cao Fei, Patty Chang, Lee Bul, Mariko Mori, Moon and Jeon, Sputniko! and The House of Natural Fiber. Featuring close to 70 contemporary artworks, historical artefacts, and film extracts, New Eden sheds light on the connections between science fiction imagination and Asian philosophy andmythology. With popular science fiction concepts such as parallel universes, interdimensional travel, and transcendence deeply rooted in Asian philosophy, New Eden draws lines between these cultural traditions, suggesting that some science fiction tropes could have their origins in Asia.
“New Eden launches a season at ArtScience Museum that explores science fiction. While it hasbecome a topic of fascination within the artworld in recent years, rarely is science fictionapproached from the perspective of Asia and through the work of women. New Eden changes this narrative. It is a major new interdisciplinary exhibition that delves into the intersectionality of science fiction and Asian spiritual philosophies through the creative praxis of Asian women artists and collectives.
It moves between ancient mythology, contemporary art, and post-modern cinema, celebrating the dream worlds, future visions, and fantastical realities of Asian artists,showing that women and alternative voices are calling for a more inclusive future,” said Honor Harger, Vice President of ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands.
Curated by Gail Chin, Joel Chin, Adrian George and Honor Harger from ArtScience Museum,
New Eden: Science Fiction Mythologies Transformed unfolds across eight chapters, depicted with narratives throughout the entire showcase.
ArtScience Museum
Daily: 10am – 7pm
(Last entry at 6pm)
6 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018974
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