Online Brochure - Singapore Art Museum

About SAM
Director’s Message
Dawn Ng, Walter, 2010, PVC helium float, 6.7 x 10 m, artist collection
Opened in January 1996, the mission of the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is to preserve and present
the art histories and contemporary art practices of Singapore and the Southeast Asian region. To
date, SAM has amassed one of the world’s largest public collections of modern and contemporary
Southeast Asian artworks, with a growing component in international contemporary art. The museum
showcases both local and international art practices, traditional and cutting edge art expressions.
Through strategic alliances with international arts and cultural institutions, SAM facilitates visual arts
education, exchange, research and development within the region and internationally.
We enter the second half of the year where, as we build a stellar collection of contemporary
Southeast Asian art for the nation, we also expand avenues to share them with people in Singapore
and enhance the learning opportunities that can be gained from these works.
Not many people are privy to the building of a national art collection. As custodians of Singapore’s
art collection, SAM is also responsible for presenting these works as much as possible. In this issue,
we take a look at how works are acquired and added to the national collection, and highlight some
of our recent key acquisitions.
SAM Board
Chair
Ms. Jane Ittogi, Partner, Shook Lin & Bok LLP
Members
Dr. Winston Ang Wee Kern, Assistant Professor, Visual and Performing Arts Academic Group,
National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University
Mr. Kenneth Choe, Executive Director, Goldman Sachs (Singapore)
Dr. Kwok Kian Woon, Associate Chair (Academic), School of Humanities and Social Sciences,
Nanyang Technological University
Mr. Qi Yu Wu, MediaCorp Artist, MediaCorp Raintree Pictures
Dr. George Quek, Chairman, BreadTalk Group Limited
Mr. Quek Tse Kwang, Partner, RT & Q Architects
Mr. Ronny C T Tan, Chief Country Officer and General Manger, Deutsche Bank AG
Mr. Suhaimi Sukiyar, Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya (Association of Artists of Various Resources)
Mr. Wee Teng Wen, Founder and Principle Partner, The Lo & Behold Group Pte Ltd
The national collection possesses works that enable a number of entry points to understanding
contemporary art, as well as offer insights into the socio-political issues, histories and cultural
identities of our region. We have opened the Learning Gallery, designed for young visitors to better
appreciate works in the SAM collection and get involved in contemporary art making. The
Programme Space on the second level of SAM at 8Q offers a new location for people and artists
alike to gather and embark on an art activity together.
We continue our push to present seminal exhibitions by individual artists. Tags and Treats: Works by
Vincent Leow offers a mid-career survey of a prolific and pivotal artist who has helped shape
contemporary and performance art practice in Singapore.
Preparations for the third Singapore Biennale, which opens to the public on 6 March 2011, are
gearing up. If you haven’t already heard, we share with you the first ten artists. They will be creating
works especially for the Biennale.
Contemporary art is about the here and now. At SAM, we work with contemporary artists and the
world around us – and that includes you, our valued patrons. So pop by once more and see what
else is in store this quarter!
Ms. Audrey Wong, Nominated Member of Parliament and Associate Director, The Substation
Tan Boon Hui
Director
Singapore Art Museum
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