Desire, passion and intimacy are at the centre of this thought-provoking exhibition at the National Gallery. Featuring over 70 works across painting, print, video and sculpture, Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art examines the way artists in the region have interpreted the complexities of human connection, and how cultures and beliefs have shaped this delicate expression of longing over the years.
The showcase expands and builds upon Trip to Bali, a 1953 essay published by Nanyang artist Liu Kang that argues how physical acts of deep passion and desire can act as a creative force in helping us better understand the way we respond and react to the world around us. The exhibition is formatted in three sections: Asian Mythos and Ritual, Conventions of the Erotic, and Public Arenas/Private Interiors. Each section imagines the different ways of being across various cultural and historical contexts.
Take note that the exhibition is rated R18 and is open to visitors aged 18 and above only. Valid identification is required at entry.
