A World Anew

S.E.A. Focus 2023 fosters collaborations to propel and showcase new possibilities in Southeast Asian art.

Text provided by S.E.A. Focus
January 25, 2023

The 2023 edition of S.E.A. Focus, the premier gateway to Southeast Asian contemporary art, is set to open its doors at Tanjong Pagar Distripark from 6 to 15 January with an expanded and more diverse showcase of the best works from around the region. Staying true to its mandate, S.E.A. Focus leverages its unique platform to continually push boundaries in the Southeast Asian art scene. 

Stepping up in its role as a conduit that connects various stakeholders in the ecosystem, S.E.A. Focus 2023 will introduce a new platform called “Collaborations” within the exhibition space to realize bolder and large-scale works that are made possible through collaborative and synergized efforts.

As part of Singapore Art Week 2023, this pioneering initiative also encapsulates the curatorial theme a world, anew in discovering new opportunities and potential, and is testament to S.E.A. Focus’ role not only in cultivating the best artistic talents, but also in propelling Southeast Asian contemporary art forward. 

The ten-day exhibition will see a curated selection of 25 galleries and over 50 artists from across the region and beyond—featuring a wide array of art forms and mediums that represent the dynamic influences and cultures of Southeast Asia.

Driving the spirit of community 

For the first time, S.E.A. Focus is proud to introduce a curated area for collaborative projects and experimental art installations. The space will feature works from institutional and cross-industry collaborations, and serve as a breeding ground that empowers artists and galleries to not only envision but realize bolder and large-scale works. In doing so, S.E.A. Focus aims to create new possibilities for Southeast Asian art and invigorate the art community at large. 

Visitors entering a world, anew will find an installation by Vietnamese-born Danish contemporary artist Danh Võ, from Vitamin Creative Space, Guangzhou. With the support of M Art Foundation, an artist-driven organization founded to support the pursuits and practices of contemporary artists, the award-winning conceptual artist’s work will allow visitors to explore and immerse themselves in a specially designed garden built on marble slabs.

Another exhibit not to be missed is the presentation of “Dirty Dishes,” materializing from a three-way collaboration together with Berlin-based gallery neugerriemschneider and Michelin-starred restaurant Burnt Ends. Displayed clean at the launch of the exhibition, the dinnerware crafted by internationally renowned Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija and German sculptor Tobias Rehberger will be used at a special private dinner hosted at Burnt Ends. These artist-made bowls will return “dirtied” for display at S.E.A. Focus 2023 before being taken home by the respective diners who ate from them. 

Experience the vibrancy of Southeast Asian Art 

S.E.A. Focus 2023 will boast a diverse selection of both established and up-and-coming talents to watch in the Southeast Asian contemporary art scene. The list of established artists includes Rirkrit Tiravanija (Thailand), Mit Jai Inn (Thailand), Sawangwongse Yawnghwe (Myanmar), Danh Võ (Vietnam), Yee I-Lann (Malaysia), Manuel Ocampo (Philippines) and Ian Woo (Singapore) while the emerging talents include names such as Hazel Lim (Singapore), Ari Bayuaji (Indonesia), Christina Lopez (Philippines), Thun Dina (Cambodia), Supawich Weesapen (Thailand), and others.

The work by Agung Kurniawan, an Indonesian multidisciplinary artist skilled at interweaving complex layers of history and narrative with fiction, will include an interactive performance led by the artist himself that visitors can participate in. 

Fringe Film Program: OFF Focus 

Moving beyond static imagery, S.E.A Focus will also shine the spotlight on short films, animations, and video works at the Fringe Film Program, organized in collaboration with Singapore’s popular indie cinema, The Projector. Titled OFF Focus and curated by Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film, the program aspires to bring together a constellation of artist videos and films from the region to showcase the rich diversity of works via the medium of the moving image. 

Living System: An NFT Show

An NFT showcase built on Tezos – a pioneering Layer 1 Proof of Stake blockchain – returns for the second year to S.E.A. Focus. Curated by Mama Magnet, the showcase entitled Living System: An NFT Show will highlight NFT artworks from leading artists across the region, namely Bjorn Calleja from The Philippines, CwndDien and the late Orkibal from Malaysia, Reza Hasni from Singapore, as well as Ykha Amelz and Discokid909 from Indonesia. The visual language of the showcase will sway between human and humanoid, and be masterfully displayed at S.E.A. Focus 2023 to create self-reflective dialogues about humanity’s Living System—from activity and rest, to the mundane and magic in life’s journeys. Visitors can look forward to experiencing the dynamism of digital art in the form of NFTs at the show as well as claiming an edition of one of the artworks showcased as a gift. 

Global online platform: Artsy 

S.E.A. Focus will also continue its partnership with Artsy, the largest global online art marketplace, for the third year. This partnership will provide a unique opportunity for exhibiting galleries to showcase their artists’ works to Artsy’s global audience, including the artist films showcased at OFF Focus.

Glean insights from SEAspotlight Talks 

As part of efforts to bring Southeast Asian contemporary art to the international stage, S.E.A. Focus will also be collaborating for the second time with Art Basel, the world’s leading fair for modern and contemporary art. While continuing to be an important partner in extending the reach of S.E.A. Focus, its artists, and galleries to a global audience, it will also take the lead in the curation of the upcoming SEAspotlight Talks—a series of panel discussions and talks by artists, luminaries and passionate art personalities. Three of these sessions are curated by Stephanie Bailey, Conversations Curator for Art Basel Hong Kong. 

S.E.A. Focus 2023 runs from January 6 to 15, 2023. Tickets are on sale at SGD10 and accessible via seafocus.sg. Each ticket is valid for multiple entries. 

Fringe Film Programme “OFF Focus” takes place on 7, 8, 14 and 15 January 2023. Tickets are priced at SGD8 per screening and available for purchase on theprojector.sg/seafocus. For the full outline of SEAspotlight Talks and other information and updates on S.E.A. Focus, please visit seafocus.sg.