Art

Mak Joon Nien, CEO of CIMB Singapore and Growth Markets; Cecilia Leong-Faulkner, founder of British Theatre Playhouse; Andras Biro, General Manager of The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore; and Sharanjit Leyl, Chancellor, Bath Spa University (Photos: CIMB Singapore; British Theatre Playhouse; The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore; Sharanjiy Leyl )

Yes, The Arts Matter To Singapore

Ahead of The British Theatre Playhouse Art for Charity Gala on 24 October 2026, Mak Joon Nien, Cecilia Leong-Faulkner, Andras Biro, and Sharanjit Leyl discuss the significance of the arts to Singapore.

CULTURE

“London’s West End Rising Stars” Raises Funds For Arts Programmes For Underserved Kids

Produced by British Theatre Playhouse, this one-night-only musical on 24 October at Capitol Theatre brings together West End stars for an evening of music, dance and drama.

Singapore Index (Istana Open House 1), 1992 (Credit: Tan Pin Pin)

See Filmmaker Tan Pin Pin’s Early Photographs At Her “Singapore Index” Exhibition

At the 10th Singapore International Photography Festival, Tan revisits a remarkable archive of 2,800 photographs documenting everyday Singapore in 1991.

Japanese artist Takumi Kama will unveil his new Kaiju work, 'The first Appearance', at Art Taipei 2026. Get your closer look at the fair when it opens on 30 October (Credit: Takumi Kama and Combine/Bami
)

Art Taipei 2026: AI, Contemplative Spaces, And Contemporary Art

From 30 October to 2 November, Art Taipei 2026 brings together 127 galleries at the Taipei World Trade Center. Discover Japanese contemporary art, new works and the evolving relationship between humanity and technology.

CULTURE

The engineering beneath Olympian Eileen Gu’s Airo Dress took A.A.Murakami more than six months to develop (Credit: A.A.Murakami)

The Ephemeral Technology Behind Eileen Gu’s Bubble-filled Met Gala Dress

British-Japanese artistic duo Alexander Groves and Azusa Murakami, the minds behind Eileen Gu’s bubble dress at the Met Gala, reveal how they give shape to the impermanent.

Trung Bao Nguyen recently participated in Apple’s Here’s to the Dreamers campaign, which celebrates creative trailblazers across Southeast Asia (Credit: Apple. )

Trung Bao Nguyen Turns Beatboxing Into A Springboard For Visual Art And Technology

The winner of the World Beatbox Camp 2017 solo category wants to make it possible to see and feel sound.

With his artworks, South Korean artist Lee explores the relationship between humans and nature (Credit: Claire Dorn)

At 90, Artist Lee Ufan Turns A Medieval Palace Into A Meditation On Space And Silence

While guiding us through his new solo exhibition, South Korean artist Lee Ufan reflects on six decades of exploring space, time, nature, and the invisible relationships that shape our world.

Exhibition view of “Resonance Project: The Cave” at Lyon Biennale in 2024 (Credit: Oliver Beer)

Oliver Beer Paints With Music, Transforming Invisible Sound Into Visible Art

From French prehistoric caves to his London studio, British artist Oliver Beer transforms sound into breathtaking abstractions that resonate across people, places, and time.

Ida Ng, CEO of Helu-Trans Group, models a piece from the 2026 ‘Malai’ Series (Credit: Punsiri Siriwetchapun)

Thai Textile Artist Jarupatcha Achavasmit Weaves Metal Into Sculptural Art

Thai artist Jarupatcha Achavasmit transforms discarded metals into woven sculptures and wearables, turning industrial waste into a medium for memory, labour, and the stories materials carry.

‘Bâtiment’, 2004, is one of the artist’s most celebrated installations (Credit: Galleria Continua)

Leandro Erlich's Paris Retrospective Invites You To Question Everything You See

In his first major solo exhibition in Paris, Argentine artist Leandro Erlich reveals how illusion can become a powerful tool for understanding the world.

‘Home Is A Foreign Place’, 1999, is a series of 36 minimalist woodblock prints by Zarina that translate Urdu words into abstract visual forms to express themes of home, memory, and displacement (Credit: STPI )

A Spool Of Thread Was The Most Powerful Work In “Zarina: Directions To My House”

“Zarina: Directions To My House” at STPI brings together more than 50 works by the celebrated artist. Curator Sarah Burney reflects on home, belonging, and a spool of thread.

CULTURE

Li Chen, who has exhibited in cities such as Singapore, Paris, Beijing, and Venice, uses black to convey the concept of immanence. Attracted to the hue very early on, he invented an ink-black for his sculptures (Credit: Asia Art Center)

Sculptor Li Chen On Why Art Should Be Misunderstood

Best known for his monumental bronze sculptures, Li Chen discusses slowing down, Eastern aesthetics, humour, and how misunderstanding enriches art.

'All Love Matter', 2025, Eko Nugroho. Screenprint and colour spray on STPI handmade shaped paper, 127 x 96 x 1.5 cm (Credit: Eko Nugroho/STPI, courtesy of STPI, Singapore)

Why Eko Nugroho Wants Us To Be Strange Monsters

Indonesian artist Eko Nugroho’s "Strange Monster View" pokes fun at smartphone culture and asks what it means to be human in our increasingly digital world. The exhibition at STPI opens on 22 August 2026.

CULTURE

Antony Gormley invites us to “go inside” his new installation (Credit: Antony Gormley and Galleria Continua)

Why Antony Gormley Believes Sculpture Matters More Than Ever In The Age Of AI

From cardboard labyrinths to volcanic stone figures depicting the human body, acclaimed British artist Antony Gormley continues to reinvent sculpture as a visceral experience.

Koh’s bookbinding efforts have been applied to numerous books, including those exhibited in countries such as Canada, the UK, Japan, and Singapore (Credit: Loewe)

Adelene Koh Started Making Tiny Books As A Child—Now She's A Loewe Foundation Craft Prize Finalist

In her entry for this year’s Loewe Foundation Craft Prize, Singaporean bookbinder Adelene Koh, based in Tainan, transformed a hidden decorative feature in a book’s spine into a meditative work of art.

Human Judgment Matters In The Age Of AI, Say Singapore Artists

In a world where images, words, and ideas can now be generated almost instantly, knowing what’s worth producing matters more than ever.

CULTURE

Hannu Lintu studied conducting with Jorma Panula at the Sibelius Academy (Credit: Chrispian Chan)

"I Want A Recognisable Sound": Hannu Lintu’s Vision For The Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Quantedge Music Director Hannu Lintu discusses his new artistic phase at Singapore Symphony Orchestra and his ambition to develop a distinctive, “recognisable sound”.

Wood—lightweight, inexpensive, and globally accessible—allows Tadashi Kawamata to work anywhere (Credit: Florie Berger)

Artist Tadashi Kawamata And Ruinart Explore Nature Through Ephemeral Architecture

Paris-based Japanese artist Tadashi Kawamata’s temporary wooden constructions offer fleeting yet powerful encounters with space, nature, and community.