14 October 2022 — A sneak peek at the Singapore Biennale 2022 Natasha
Yesterday, we got to check out the media launch of the Singapore Biennale 2022 Natasha. Armed with fans, mosquito patches, and sunscreen, we journeyed across the sprawling event’s multiple locations, such as Singapore Art Museum, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, and the Southern Islands. Other Biennale locations include the Singapore Flyer, International Plaza and 22 Orchard Road.
We got a sneak peek at numerous artworks, which responded to concepts of community, storytelling, relationship-building and progress. These are just some of the many, many strands of thought that Natasha hopes to share with us.
If anything, we recommend approaching Natasha with curiosity, and thinking about it as an open-ended exploration of ideas rather than an exhibition driven by a tight, single narrative.
Take a look through our photos to check out our journey through Natasha.
Talk about cool branding — you can get a Singapore Biennale tote bag right out of this vending machine!
(Left) June Yap and Nida Ghouse introducing the works. They are two of the Biennale’s four Co-Curators. (Right) The Nina bell F. House Museum features works by Donghwan Kam, Nuraini Juliastuti, Sophia Park, Ying Que with others in and around Casco Art Institute: Working for the Commons. In this installation, you’ll spot objects out of a domestic scene, such as a fridge and dining table set. In and around these furniture pieces, you’ll find materials that imagine new ways of running institutions.
(Left) Ext.Asi: Archive, 2022, by Extended Asia. The work charts the connections between communities in Singapore and Indonesia, which occurred as a result of two online festivals. (Right) Áhcagastá – Tales of the Ember, 2022, Elina Waege Mikalsen. Drawing on her position as someone of both Sámi and Norwegian culture, the artist uses a traditional Sámi weaving method to consider intergenerational storytelling
Kanitha Tith’s Hut Tep Soda Chan (Hut of an Angel) reflects a domestic scene and showcases the richness of everyday life. It takes its title from a 1968 Khmer film about the love between a mortal man and an angel.
Co-Curator June Yap in front of Ong Kian Peng’s A Viscous Sea, which he created while attending an artist residency in Jordan. A few months ago, we spoke to Ong about his experiences in Jordan. You can read about that here!
One of Hague Yang’s sonic sculptures as part of her work ‘The Hybrid Intermediates – Flourishing Electrophorus Duo (Sonic Intermediate – Hairy Carbonous Dweller and The Randing Intermediate – Furless Uncolored Dweller)’. We like how the addition of technological designs (such as faces of electric plugs) gives the impression that the sculptures have their own unique faces
A visitor seated in Air cut into Song. It was created by Moad Musbahi alongside Huruf with Ejin Sha, Flora Weil, Shukanta Majumdar, and Weather Correspondents. Spread across Tanjong Pagar Distripark and Lazarus Island, the site-specific installation highlights how we read and interpret the weather
We then headed to Lazarus Island for our next art pitstop! It was a lovely, balmy day to enjoy the work outdoors.
Papitas Tarpuycha/Earthing Potatoes by Åsa Sonjasdotter & Daniela Zambrano Almidón. Located on Lazarus Island, the work centres on the potato — a symbol of culinary culture, traditional cooking, and migration.
(Left) A detail of Moving Earth, Crossing Water, Eating Soil by Zarina Muhammad. Pick up one of the cards in front of the structure to reveal a series of prompts, which encourage you to explore and experience the site in a unique manner. (Right) Artist Zarina Muhammad in front of a weathervane, as part of Moving Earth, Crossing Water, Eating Soil.
(Left) The view as we walked between Lazarus and St. John’s Island – we relished the burst of crimson leaves against the green foliage! (Right) Views as we left St. John’s Island
Natasha opens to the public on 16 October 2022. Click here to learn more details.
