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[title]To call Southeast Asia’s first minimalism exhibition exhaustive would be an understatement. Spanning across two iconic locations – National Gallery Singapore and ArtScience Museum – from now until April 14, Minimalism: Space. Light. Object. is dedicated to experiential and immersive art by celebrated artists from all over the world.
Organised by National Gallery Singapore in collaboration with ArtScience Museum, the exhibition presents approximately 150 installations, paintings, sculptures, photographs, videos and sound works by over 70 artists and 40 composers. These works push the boundaries and definitions of Minimalism, championing the art of less is more. They allow viewers to create new experiences and discover the rich possibilities that emerge from the relationship between the art object, the space around it, and themselves.
Not just for minimalists and art enthusiasts, the exhibition also makes a great photo opportunity for maximalists and selfie junkies. A treat for the eyes, works by heavy hitters such as Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, Frank Stella and Kim Lim, amongst others, provide the perfect backdrop for an Instagram post. But looking beyond the surface, trace the development and legacies of Minimalism from the 1950s to the present day in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The exhibition is filled with works that explore various ideas of presence and absence, with many drawing on Asian philosophies such as Zen Buddhism. Each artist takes a distinct approach to these ideas, making their work stand out in its own way.
Mega Death by Tatsuo Miyajima on display at National Gallery Singapore (Tatsuo Miyajima. Mega Death. 1999/2016. LED, IC, electric wire and infrared sensor. Dimensions variable. Domus Collection. Domus Collection and Tatsuo Miyajima)
Highlights at National Gallery Singapore
Expect art that explores various elements such as geometry, light, repetition and more with unorthodox materials like rattan, sand and metal. Highlights on display at National Gallery Singapore include Robert Morris’s mirror cubes, Mona Hatoum’s barbed-wire cube in Impenetrable, Peter Kennedy’s kaleidoscopic Neon Light Installations, Simryn Gill’s eerie photographs in My own private Angkor and Ai Weiwei’s unique Sunflower Seeds. On the other hand, installations like Anish Kapoor's illusory use of colour and form in Void, Olafur Eliasson's use of coloured light in Room for one colour and Tatsuo Miyajima’s numerical LED display (pictured) will have your eyes playing tricks on you.
Void by Anish Kapoor on display at National Gallery Singapore (Anish Kapoor. Void. 1989. Fibreglass and pigment. 200 x 200 x 152.5 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Lisson Gallery. Anish Kapoor. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2018; courtesy of Lisson Gallery)
Other programmes to catch
Not just limited to paintings, sculptures and massive installations, the exhibition is also loaded with live performance, tours and talks at the National Gallery Singapore. Take an intimate glimpse into the mind of South Korean artist Haegue Yang on January 13 as she shares her artistic journey and discusses her Sol LeWitt Upside Down works on display. Check out the Minimalism Symposium featuring keynote lectures by New York-based curators Alexandra Munroe on March 22 and Lynn Zelevansky on March 23, plus a curatorial roundtable on March 23. Other programmes include Minimalism Redux: Minimalist music from its antecedents to its offshoots on January 23 and 24, as well as a toy piano performance and talk by classical musician and professional toy pianist Margaret Leng Tan on January 26. Don’t miss out on Simone Forti’s Dance Constructions on Saturdays from January 19 to March 9, and Spanish artist Santiago Sierre's performance sculpture from March 23 to 31. Most of these programmes are free to register at minimalism.sg. Secure your tickets online at minimalism.sg or on-site at National Gallery Singapore.
But before you embark on your art trail at Minimalism: Space. Light. Object., take our quiz to find out if you are a true minimalist.