28 October 2016 — The works of five artists from the Philippines are showcased in the Singapore Biennale 2016, which officially opened last night at the Singapore Arts Museum (SAM) along Bras Basah Road. Representatives of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore joined colleagues from the diplomatic corps, officials of SAM and the Singapore government, artists and other guest in the opening ceremony. Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam was guest of honour of the event.
The five artists and their corresponding entries include: Ms. Martha Atienza (Endless Hours at Sea); Ms. Patricia Perez-Eustaquio (The Hunters Enter the Woods); Mr. Dex Fernandez (I Wander, I Wonder); Mr. Gregory Halili (Karagatan: The Breadth of Oceans); and Mr. Ryan Villamael (Locus Amoenus).
Their works are in the company of creations by other artists in exhibits in different locations in Singapore that compose this year’s biennale including, among others, SAM, National Museum of Singapore, Peranakan Museum, Asian Civilizations Museum and Singapore Management University.
Ms. Atienza is joining the shortlist for the 11th Benesse Prize, which will be presented for the first time in Asia in January 2017 near the conclusion of the biennale.
According to the event’s official web site, Singapore Biennale 2016, titled An Atlas of Mirrors, features site-specific and never seen before contemporary artworks by more than 60 artists across Southeast Asia, and East and South Asia.
Exploring shared histories and current realities within and beyond the region, Singapore Biennale 2016 is a constellation of artistic perspectives that provide unexpected ways of seeing the world and ourselves.
The Singapore Biennale (SB) started in 2006 to serve as Singapore’s pre-eminent platform for international dialogue in contemporary art. Its overall objective is to place the Singapore art scene within a global context, and to foster productive collaborations between local Singapore artists and their counterparts in the international arts community. SB thus presented new opportunities for local visual artists, arts organizations and businesses, while cultivating deeper public engagement in the arts.
The initiative also complements achievements in other areas of arts and culture, collectively enhancing Singapore's international profile as a vibrant city.
Singapore Biennale 2016 will run until February 26, 2017. END
