21.05.2012

PANORAMA: Recent Art from Contemporary Asia launches at the Singapore Art Museum, the first permanent exhibition that draws from SAM’s contemporary art collection looking at the changes Asian societies have undergone in the last two decades. Since 2009, SAM has built one of the strongest collections of Southeast Asian contemporary art as well as iconic Asian pieces. The works featured in PANORAMA were acquired in the past three years. The first exhibition in the series features works by 24 emerging and established artists from eight Asian countries, including Agnes Arellano, Agus Suwage, Louie Cordero, Nalini Malani, Sakarin Krue-On, Sherman Ong, and :phunk, among others. Mr. Tan Boon Hui, Director of SAM, says, “Contemporary art is one of the physical manifestations of contemporary culture so the creation of contemporary art and contemporary art exhibitions like PANORAMA are part of the creation of our culture now. The iconic works in PANORAMA were acquired for the SAM collection for the rich and complex ideas they embody about our world. Countries in the larger Asia-Pacific region have been included to provide a more expansive view of Asia, in particular those countries whose artists and artworks share similarities with art practices from Southeast Asia. By focussing on such artists and powerful works in PANORAMA, the collection is an entry point to learn about the society and changes underway in Asia.”

Entang Wiharso, Temple Of Hope: Forest Of Eyes, 2010–2011. Mixed media. 330 x 400 x 300 cm.