The sixth S.E.A. Focus is set to take place from 20 to 28 January 2024 as a key event of Singapore Art Week (SAW). The leading platform for South East Asian contemporary art is commissioned by the National Arts Council (NAC) and will be held at 39 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore.
Themed “Serial and Massively Parallel”, the exhibition will explore the intriguing interplay between humanity and technology, as well as what gives distinctiveness to being human in the midst of an impending technological confluence. It will display artworks from 22 galleries and more than 40 artists from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, Australia, the U.S. and Germany. Some of them are returning artists, some are first timers in S.E.A. Focus. To name some of them are Aiman (Singapore), Poklong Anading (the Philippines), Apichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand), Mella Jaarsma (Indonesia), and Tan Zi Hao (Malaysia).
The exhibition is curated by John Tung. He’s an independent curator and exhibition-maker, who’s been doing curatorial works since 2015 and this is his first for S.E.A. Focus. Below is a snippet of Indonesia Design’s online interview with John about the exhibition and his curating experience.
Indonesia Design (iD): What sparked your interest in curating for S.E.A. Focus?
John Tung (JT): It’s an excellent opportunity, a barometer of the ongoing artistic production in the region at a specific moment. It takes years of surveying evolving practices, identifying trends that led to being prominent, and exploring new creative directions. When I was approached to curate this edition, I was very excited. It provides an opportunity for a closer look at what’s happening in South East Asia at this moment.
iD: There are 22 galleries exhibiting in S.E.A. Focus. How many galleries did you contact? And did any of them decline your invitation?
JT: There are a few galleries that turned down the invitation, but it was due to circumstances outside the curatorial, such as scheduling conflicts or a lack of artists available for the specified date, and so on. Almost everyone I had conversations with is coming to the exhibition.
iD: Are they the highlights of the exhibition?
JT: Ultimately, I think the highlights will be determined by the audience who attends. And it’s the social media that will showcase the most photographed pieces taken. But all the works we are presenting in this exhibition are all excellent in their own right. Each of them highlights a very unique perspective, brings across important themes and shares new ideas to contemporary art practices. I wouldn’t want to pigeonhole and give so much attention to just a select of artists.
iD: How do you think this year’s S.E.A. Focus will influence the development of the art scene in South East Asia or globally?
JT: With each edition of S.E.A. Focus, our aim is to showcase some of the most exciting offerings coming from the region. It’s never been about just showing the already prominent artists. It’s an opportunity to get to know emerging artists. In that respect, I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for art collectors who are not so familiar with artists and art practices from South East Asia to get a one-stop event that gives them insight into what’s happening in the region. That is the ultimate contribution of S.E.A. Focus.
iD: How does the experience of being the curator for S.E.A. Focus differ from your previous curatorial works?
JT: Well, I would say the scale is the biggest difference. I’m no stranger to festivals or commissioning artworks. But I think this is the only instance where I’m the sole curator in charge of almost more than 180 works being part of the exhibition! It’s a huge responsibility but also very exciting. I feel so privileged to be involved in the curation of so many fantastic works of art.
Besides the main exhibition, S.E.A. Focus 2024 will see the return of its signature programmes to spark meaningful discourse and to foster the appreciation of the moving imagery as an art medium. SEAspotlight Talks will illuminate new insights over stimulating conversations with art thought leaders and the audience. OFF Focus will witness a second collaboration with Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film to curate and showcase distinctive films from South East Asia with a screening programme. In this edition, 9 distinctive short films from visionary Thai artist-filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul will be featured, followed by an online Q&A with him.
For more information and updates on S.E.A. Focus 2024, visit www.seafocus.sg.