A Renewed Focus on Southeast Asian Contemporary Art
The 2023 edition is set to inspire seasoned collectors and curious enthusiasts, as the region’s artistic talents bring with them fresh approaches and renewed experiences
S.E.A. Focus, the premier gateway to Southeast Asian contemporary art, will return for its fifth edition from 6 to 15 January 2023 as part of the signature visual arts season, Singapore Art Week (SAW). Commissioned by the National Arts Council, Singapore (NAC), the anchor event for SAW will feature works from a curated selection of 25 galleries and over 50 artists from around the world and bring quality art experiences to art lovers or anyone who appreciates the unique influences that Southeast Asia brings to art.
Collectors will also get first dibs on the exhibition where they can acquire these works of art. “S.E.A. Focus 2023 promises to take visitors through a captivating journey into the world of Southeast Asian art. As the premier art platform that is firmly anchored on championing Southeast Asian work, we invite both new and seasoned collectors to celebrate renowned and emerging talents in the region, who each brings a unique flavour that enriches our art scene,” says Emi Eu, Project Director of S.E.A. Focus and Executive Director of STPI.
Tay Tong, Director of Sector Development (Visual Arts), NAC, adds, “We are proud to see our homegrown S.E.A. Focus cementing its role as a pioneering art platform in Southeast Asia. Beyond a key highlight of SAW, the staging of S.E.A. Focus serves to propel Southeast Asian art and artists internationally, further strengthening Singapore's position as a dynamic art hub for the region. This is in line with the next chapter of Our SG Arts Plan (2023-2027), as NAC continues to work closely with our partners such as STPI to strengthen the vibrancy of our visual arts scene and transforming Singapore into a distinctive city together.”
A renewed world through Southeast Asia Affirming the growing impact and dynamism of Southeast Asia in the contemporary art world, S.E.A. Focus 2023 is themed a world, anew as the region looks forward to renewed opportunities for artists and galleries post-pandemic. Featuring paintings, sculptures and installations, visitors will be discovering the best in Southeast Asian contemporary art as they journey through new artistic expressions and work dedicated to the region, curated by Joyce Toh, Head of Exhibition for S.E.A. Focus 2023. Toh, who holds over 20 years of experience in the arts and culture sector in Singapore and abroad, has served as Head of Exhibition since 2021.
“a world, anew explores the idea of new beginnings and how vast potential can be found in minuscule or humble sources. It considers how a tree grows from a tiny seed; how an ocean’s waters comprise just three conjoined atoms; how our DNA is composed of just four letters,” says Toh. “Southeast Asian art is on the brink of that beginning, and S.E.A. Focus 2023 is where you can discover some of the most exciting, creative works that have emerged during a time where optimism and caution intermingle.”
A unique immersion into Southeast Asian Art Underlining Singapore’s position as a burgeoning art marketplace and a hub for creativity, this year’s event will bring together thought leaders from the art world in a series of insightful discussions aimed at fostering a deeper appreciation of Southeast Asian work. The ten-day line-up of activities also includes special showcases and digital experiences that will engage art lovers from collectors and enthusiasts to experience seekers.
Curated works will be featured in a physical showcase at Tanjong Pagar Distripark as an open and fluid exhibition that encourages exploration. The showcase will incorporate new, specially designed spaces for experimental art installations by emerging artists, celebrating the possibilities in the future of art.
To bring Southeast Asian contemporary art to the world, S.E.A. Focus will be partnering leading global online art marketplace Artsy, to offer a seamless platform for buyers and create opportunities for collectors and audiences to make fresh discoveries in their purchase journeys.
S.E.A. Focus is proud to welcome a host of 25 galleries from around the world, including 5 first-timers:
de Sarthe (Hong Kong, USA)
Island (formerly known as Rubber Factory) (USA)
MONO8 (Philippines)
TKG+ (Taiwan)
39+ Art Space (Singapore)
They will join a strong suite of returning galleries, including:
A+ Works of Art (Malaysia)
AC43 Gallery (Singapore) Art Porters (Singapore)
Artinformal (Philippines) Baik Art (USA, Korea, Indonesia)
CUC Gallery (Vietnam) Gajah Gallery (Singapore, Indonesia)
Intersections (Singapore) Mizuma Gallery (Japan, Singapore, USA) neugerriemschneider (Germany)
Nova Contemporary (Thailand)
Richard Koh Fine Art (Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand)
ROH (Indonesia)
Silverlens (Philippines, USA)
STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery (Singapore)
Sullivan+Strumpf (Australia)
The Drawing Room (Philippines)
the shop (China)
Wei-Ling Gallery (Malaysia)
Yavuz Gallery (Singapore, Australia)
Returning for the second year to S.E.A. Focus as Show Partner is Tezos, a pioneering Layer 1 Proof of Stake blockchain widely adopted by NFT artists and collectors worldwide. TZ APAC, the leading adoption entity for the Tezos blockchain in Asia, will present a specially curated Asia-centric NFT and digital art showcase within S.E.A. Focus.
Alongside the main exhibition, S.E.A. Focus 2023 will continue to shine a spotlight on the best of short films, animations, and video works from leading Southeast Asian artists. In collaboration with Singapore’s popular indie cinema The Projector, the 2023 edition of the Fringe Programme will be hosted at their flagship space at Golden Mile Tower, and curated by Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film, a visual arts space in Singapore that is dedicated to film and photography.
For more information and updates on S.E.A. Focus 2023, please visit www.seafocus.sg.
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