Singapore takes the long view in supporting visual artists

1. A very good morning and welcome everybody to the Singapore Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale.

   1. First of all, thank you for taking time to join us amid a hectic and packed week.

2. This is the 12^th time that Singapore is participating in the Venice Biennale.

   1.  The first time was in 2001, 25 years ago.

   2. Our regular and sustained presence here reflects Singapore’s strong belief in two things.

      1. First, the power of the visual arts to deepen cross-cultural understanding.

      2. Second, the power of the Biennale to showcase Singapore’s artistic identity and to catalyse international exchange.

3. This year’s Biennale is themed “In Minor Keys”.

   1. It is a timely reminder that the ability to exercise restraint and quiet reflection are critical to navigating a world that is increasingly uncertain and is rapidly transforming.

   2. The visual arts create space for us to better understand ourselves and one another – who we are and what we stand for, individually and collectively.

   3. In doing so, they deepen the trust and cohesion that holds us together as communities and societies. 

Growing the Visual Arts Ecosystem in Singapore

4. This is one important reason why Singapore has intentionally and consistently invested in growing our visual arts landscape over the years.

   1. Our priority has been to identify and nurture visual arts talent early, and to journey with them.

5. We offer scholarships to emerging talent, support their growth through residencies including abroad, and we amplify their work through public art commissions.

   1. Robert Zhao, who was our featured artist at the last Venice Biennale, has showcased his work through public art commissioned by the National Arts Council, including in conjunction with Singapore’s Bicentennial in 2019.

   2. Ho Tzu Nyen, another Singaporean visual artist, represented us at the 54^th Venice Biennale in 2011.

      1.  He has since gone on to headline major solo exhibitions in Singapore and abroad, and receive appointments to prominent international arts bodies.

      2. We are also proud that he is the first Singaporean artistic director appointed to oversee the Gwangju Biennale in Korea this September.

6. An important part of developing our visual arts talent is finding and building platforms to showcase, and profile our artists to the international arts community.

   1. These enable them to expand their perspectives and to learn from others around the world.

   2. Fostering such exchange of ideas and creativity allows Singapore to connect ourselves as a vibrant and distinctive node within the wider global arts landscape.

7. Inaugurated in 2013, the Singapore Art Week or SAW has grown into a significant platform for the showcase of artistic talent from Singapore and Southeast Asia.

   1. In the past five years alone, the number of artists, curators and producers participating in SAW has grown from close to 600, to more than 900.

   2. Singapore artists comprised the majority of those involved.

   3. By showcasing talent not only from Singapore but also our region, SAW also spotlights the artistic diversity and the cultural richness of Southeast Asia.

      1.  I welcome all our guests here today to come and take a look at the next edition of SAW in January 2027.

Singapore at VB2026

8. This Venice Biennale represents the pinnacle of international contemporary art platforms, bringing together the visual arts community from nearly 100 countries.

   1. Since we started participating in the Biennale, 19 artists from Singapore were honored to have the opportunity to present their work, to grow their networks, and to deepen their skills.

9. This year, we have Amanda Heng, a veteran artist with four decades of contributions to the arts, to represent Singapore in our pavilion.

   1. A pioneering figure in Singapore’s contemporary art scene, Amanda has used her art to observe and to unearth dimensions of Singapore society, embodying the spirit of deep connection throughout her career.

   2. Her work this year is also the product of cross-generational exchange with curator Selene Yap.

   3. The dual-channel video that they have developed, “A Pause” was filmed both in Venice and Punggol in Singapore, finding commonality between the two cities through our universal human experiences.

   4. It is an invitation for us to take a moment to reflect and to contemplate. A moment to slow down amidst our fast pace, always connected lives. A moment to appreciate the seemingly mundane around us, so we can return with a better appreciation of the beauty of the world. It is an invitation to see each other more clearly, to hold each other in better regard, and to treasure the connections between one another, no matter how fleeting.

10. It is an invitation to all our guests here today, and all our visitors to the Venice Biennale over the next six months, to take a pause and to engage with Amanda and her art. I had the chance to do so yesterday, and I found the installation inviting, the experience refreshing, and I left renewed.

    1. I hope that it will similarly provide you with the opportunity to reflect, renew, and reconnect with yourselves and with others around you.

    2. May it give you a glimpse of the unique and distinctive artistic talent in Singapore.

    3. I would also like to take a pause to thank the team behind the Singapore Pavilion, including our colleagues at the National Arts Council and Singapore Art Museum, all the other participants in Venice, as well as the production team for stewarding this exhibition. Please join me in giving them a big round of applause.

    4. With that, I am pleased to declare the Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Biennale 2026 open. Let’s all take a pause.