AGAS rebrands Singapore Gallery Weekend
By A&M

Singapore Gallery Month, organised by the Art Galleries Association of Singapore (AGAS) takes place from 1 to 29 September 2024. It has been rebranded from Singapore Gallery Weekend, which launched in 2020, to expand its offerings. More than 30 galleries have come together for the festival. They are divided into three zones: Gillman Barracks and vicinity, Tanjong Pagar Distripark and vicinity, as well as Orchard and beyond, to showcase what the art galleries and institutions in these areas have to offer.

Logo for Singapore Gallery Month 2024.

Singapore Gallery Month is part of the efforts by AGAS to encourage the public to become interested–and invested–in the local art scene. Yeo elaborates, “AGAS’ aim is to foster a deeper appreciation for art and stimulate growth within the local art market.” She adds, “Every city's art scene reflects its soul—our collective creativity, resilience, and cultural identity. Galleries, with their patrons and artists, hold a unique and vital role in the ecosystem to contribute to enriching the nation's cultural essence”.

The festival is a call to action to start or continue to see what local galleries present, and to understand the fuller ecosystem that they are a part of. Programme Director Louis Ho says, “Singapore Gallery Month is about art and exhibitions. It is also about artists, art workers, collectors, enthusiasts - an entire community of people that makes our arts ecosystem thrive.” Ho, who wears multiple hats as a curator, art historian and educator, adds, “Gallery Month fosters a deeper appreciation for the cultural fabric that connects us. Everyone should pay your local art gallery a visit, and see some art and meet the people who made it all possible.”

Kevin Cuturi, Founder, Cuturi Gallery, joins in the call to action, and says, “Galleries are more than just places to see art.” He elaborates, “They are spaces for expression, innovation, and conversation, where artists, curators, and enthusiasts come together to celebrate creativity. Galleries need support and patronage to thrive and continue engaging our community. By visiting your favourite galleries and discovering new ones, you not only enrich your own cultural journey but also help keep our local arts community vibrant.”

Zak Lo with Singaporean artist Thomas Yeo at Gallery 1819. Photo by Benny Loh.

Zak Lo, Founder of Gallery 1819, another member of AGAS highlights the significant changes that mark this year’s Singapore Gallery Month. He comments, “The 2024 edition of Singapore Gallery Month is significantly different from previous years due to several key innovations and changes that reflect the evolving art scene and a stronger focus on inclusivity and digital engagement.” He cites an enhanced digital experience, a focus on sustainability, diverse artistic representations and increased community engagement. He further notes that it provides a platform for cross-promoting among galleries to help increase footfall and potential sales.

In line with this call, there are several docent-led tours within the three identified clusters, which are listed on the dedicated Singapore Gallery Month microsite. There is also a partnership with the Particle, which works at the intersection of art and technology. Through its app, it has created a digital map to guide visitors through Gillman Barracks, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Orchard Road and their vicinities.

Kemalezedine, Dawn, 2024, acrylic and oil on canvas, 140 × 540 × 5 cm (triptych, 140 × 180 × 5 cm each). © Kemalezedine, courtesy of the artist and Mizuma Gallery.

The participating galleries at Gillman Barracks are FOST Gallery, Ota Fine Arts, Mizuma Gallery, Richard Koh Fine Art, ShanghART, Sundaram Tagore Gallery, The Columns Gallery, The Culture Story and Yeo Workshop.

Sunaina Bhalla, ‘Re-Growth’ series viii’, 2024, organza fabric with suture threads, emboridery threads and pen on handmade paper, 34 x 57.4cm. Image courtesy of the artist and 39+ Art Space.

And over at Tanjong Pagar Distripark and its vicinity, there are 39+ Art Space, BOL Gallery, Confluence Art Space, Gallery 1819, Gajah Gallery, Highlight Art, JW Projects, Mama on Palette, New Art Museum Singapore, Prestige Art Gallery, Singapore Art Museum, STPI and Whitestone Gallery. BOL Gallery is holding a solo exhibition of Korean painter Boree Hur titled ‘Green Haven’. And Prestige Art Gallery, which recently moved to its new space on Stamford Road, is showing ‘From Passion to Mission – The Exploration and Contributions of Southeast Asian Artists’, featuring works of modern and contemporary artists from Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Indeed the exhibitions showcase the works of artists from Singapore and beyond. At 39+ Art Space, the exhibition ‘Confluence of Culture’, features two local artists Sunaina Bhalla and Aki Hassan, alongside seven international artists. At Gajah Gallery, the exhibition ‘Noughties by Nature: Contemporary Indonesian Art from Generation 2000 Plus’, which opened on 15 August and will close on 15 September, will present an art history lesson on the oeuvres of Indonesian artists working in the 2000s, including Uji "Hahan" Handoko Eko Saputro and Wedhar Riyadi.

Uji Hahan Handoko, Did You See and Did You Get, 2024, acrylic on canvas, 250 x 200cm. Image courtesy of the artist and Gajah Gallery.

In Orchard and beyond, there are Aestheletic Fine Art Gallery, Art District SG, artcommune gallery, Art Science Museum, Art Seasons, Cuturi Gallery, Dino Zoli Foundation, Haridas Contemporary, Intersections Gallery, National Gallery Singapore, Sullivan+Strumpf, Sims Galleria, The Private Museum and 7879 Gallery & Clayworks.

Through the festival, the organisers wish to introduce art and art galleries to the Singapore public through lifestyle programmes. “We are thrilled to announce this year’s Gallery Month as a tentpole event in our calendar,” says Audrey Yeo, President, AGAS, and Founder of Yeo Workshop. “Our lifestyle programmes are designed to enhance accessibility and consider the entire ecosystem, positioning galleries as pivotal platforms to showcase art and support artists in Singapore.”

Artist Wei Leng Tay at home with her gallerist Audrey Yeo (Yeo Workshop). Image courtesy of Wei Leng Tay.

Particularly interesting are the activities that combine art with wellness. There will be sound baths with Layla Eris and yoga sessions with Xin Hui Helder-Eng at two galleries: 39+ Art Space and The Private Museum. In addition, there will also be Creators and Connoisseurs: A Speed Dating Soiree at 39+ Art Space, for young artists and art collectors to get to know each other and create new connections, which takes place on 27 September. In addition, there are workshops such as painting with the Japanese art of Kintsugi, and special programmes such as appreciating sake alongside art through the Sip and Savour: Sake and Art, a sake tasting and gallery crawl organised in collaboration with SAKESHŌ at Gillman Barracks. There are also talks that place an emphasis on art collecting.

Aside from gallery exhibitions and activations within galleries, seven private collection visits are taking place this year. Speaking at the launch of Singapore Gallery Month, collector Nicholas Song, who has returned to Singapore after nearly 20 years away, says, “It is a delight to return to find a burgeoning art scene, with galleries and other arts platforms presenting a wealth of diverse programming.” Further, he observes, “It is heartening to see young artists in Singapore passionate about their practices. They deserve our support!”

Singapore Gallery Month continues to offer the Patron’s Pass, priced at SGD199, which provides exclusive access to private events and VIP programmes, including but not limited to the wellness and art sessions in gallery spaces and private collection tours. If you are keen to find out more about Singapore Gallery Month, taking place from 1 to 29 September 2024, click here. To purchase a Patron’s Pass, click here.