Art connoisseurs, here's some news you can't miss. Singapore Art Museum (SAM) has announced its first international batch of residents. Following SAM’s first open call for applications in December 2020, which received close to 1,000 applications, 18 residents have been selected to be a part of the first cycle of the SAM Residencies. Out of which, three individuals from Singapore have been selected.
The museum has offered 15 independent practitioners and three art collectives a studio-based residency across four residency types: Artist Residency, Community and Education Residency, Curatorial & Research Residency and EX-SITU: Art Spaces Residency. Residents hail from countries and regions across the world, including Argentina, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and more. Each residency will span a period of between one to six months, starting from October this year.
“I am looking forward to introducing a collaborative element to my practice and using the studio space to test new methods of installation. It is truly exciting to be supported in my next phase of artistic exploration and research," says Singaporean artist Aki Hassan, who will be starting their residency this October. The artist plans to use their time in residence to debunk normative understandings of intimacy.
Also extending his research to the local context is Yip Kai Chun, whose interest in neglected history, culture and language of the localities led him to research the nuances of Hakkanese heritage in Hong Kong, and now Singapore, whereas artist and curator Moad Musbahi investigates migration as a method for cultural production and political expression. The role artists and cultural practitioners play in the development of new political imaginaries using blockchain will be explored by curator and researcher Barbara Cueto.
One of the most comprehensive residencies programmes in Asia, SAM Residencies aims to support artistic experimentation and innovative practices, encourage collaboration and exchange, and engage both the art community and the public at large. The public will get opportunities to interact and engage in dialogue with the residents through programmes such as studio visits, film screenings, talks, performances, and workshops. Featuring four residency types, the interdisciplinary SAM Residencies is open to artists, curators, art organisations and artist-run spaces, as well as community and education-focused art practitioners.
These residencies will take place in physical spaces in Singapore and will offer open spaces for social interaction between the residents, the wider art community, and the public, serving as a catalyst for collaborative and collective activities to develop. The topics and themes explored in each residency cycle will reflect contemporary concerns. The first cycle will focus on the notions of intimacy, infrastructure, and the impact of technology on contemporary life.
Check out the full list of selected residents in Cycle 2021/2022:
Artist Residency
- Chok Si Xuan (Singapore)
- Aki Hassan (Singapore)
- Vishal Kumaraswamy (India)
- Sikarnt Skoolisariyaporn (Thailand)
- Sherie Sitauze (Zimbabwe, lives and works in the United Kingdom)
Community & Education Residency
- Barbara Cueto (Spain, lives and works in Germany)
- Johanna Palmeyro (Argentina)
- Rebecca Vickers (United States, lives and works in Thailand)
- Yip Kai Chun (Hong Kong)
Curatorial & Research Residency
- Hera Chan (Hong Kong, lives and works in the Netherlands) and Edwin Nasr (Lebanon, lives and works in the Netherlands)
- Rizki Lazuardi (Indonesia)
- Arianna Mercado (Philippines, lives and works in the United Kingdom)
- Moad Musbahi (Libya, lives and works between Libya and United Kingdom)
- Bhavisha Panchia (South Africa)
- Primer (Denmark)
- Berny Tan (Singapore)
- Jeannine Tang (Singapore, lives and works in the United States)
EX-SITU: Art Spaces Residency
- Bras Basah Open (Singapore)
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