Explore the Legacy of The Substation at National Gallery Singapore's 'OPEN END: Resonate, Re-Read, and Re-Trace The Substation Archive'

Hi Huneybees,

Dive into Singapore’s contemporary art history with OPEN END: Resonate, Re-Read, and Re-Trace The Substation Archive, a unique exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore’s Rotunda Library & Archive. This exhibit brings to life the story of The Substation, Singapore’s first independent contemporary art space, through compelling installations that merge text, video, and sound by artists Chong Li-Chuan, Urich Lau, and curator Dr. Adrian Tan.

Left to Right: Chong Li-Chuan, Urich Lau & Dr. Adrian Tan

Artist Introduction

• Chong Li-Chuan (b.1975) is a Singaporean composer and sound artist with a deep passion for philosophy and the arts. Starting in the 1990s, he has created music, soundscapes, and installations, collaborating across theatre, dance, and film. His work spans international projects in cities like London, Tokyo, and Singapore, exploring the poetics of sound through diverse, site-specific art.
  
  
• Urich Lau (b.1975) is a Singaporean visual artist specializing in video art, photography, and media art. His work has been exhibited worldwide, including in the US, Japan, Italy, and Australia. Lau has curated notable projects like Negentropic Fields at National Gallery Singapore, SUPER–TRAJECTORY at Tainan Art Museum, and Sim Lim Square Art Residency for Singapore Art Week, showcasing his extensive contributions to contemporary media art.
  
  
• Dr. Adrian Tan (b.1980) is an artist-curator whose work centers on art in public spaces, performance art, and contemporary art archives in Southeast Asia. As co-founder of The Artists Company (TAC), he collaborates on independent art projects and is currently engaged in a research initiative with NTU Centre for Contemporary Art, The Substation, and National Gallery Singapore's Rotunda Library & Archive, supported by the 2024 Platform Projects Curatorial Award.
  
  

Running from 4 October to 4 December 2024, and part of The Substation’s Anniversary Events, this exhibition is supported by the Platform Projects Curatorial Award, in partnership with the NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore and The Substation itself. As you wander through the Rotunda Library & Archive, expect a dynamic shift from its usual quietness as artworks blend with The Substation’s rich archival materials - from exhibition catalogues and digital records to ephemera and publications. This engaging setup not only revisits but also reinterprets The Substation's influential history and its impact on the local art community.

To deepen the experience, the exhibit includes curator-led tours, artist panels, and a live public art performance within the Rotunda Archive. Whether you’re a long-time supporter of The Substation or new to its story, OPEN END offers an immersive journey into the legacy of a space that shaped Singapore’s artistic landscape.

OPEN END: Resonate, Re-Read and Re-Trace The Substation Archive

Location: Supreme Court Wing, Level 3, UOB Southeast Asia Gallery, Rotunda Library & Archive

Date: 4 Oct - 4 Dec 2024, Monday to Friday

Time: 10am - 12.30pm and 2.30 - 5pm (closed on public holidays)

Pricing: Free Admission

Curator Tour:

Location: Rotunda Library & Archive

Date: Fri 4 Oct and Fri 1 Nov

Time: 5 - 6pm

Pricing: Free, registration required | 25 slots

Join curator Dr. Adrian Tan for a tour of OPEN END and explore how it reimagines the archive as a space for critical engagement instead of just storage and indexing. Learn how the artworks in the exhibition unveil the complexities behind archival materials, treating them as dynamic sources that invite new interpretations within the library space.

For more information, you may visit nationalgallery.sg/openend. 

Have fun exploring through the art space.

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