Paintings from Singapore’s national collection shown at Venice Biennale’s main exhibition for the first time (2024)

When the prestigious Venice Biennale opens to the public on Saturday (Apr 20), visitors to the Italian city can expect to see art from Singapore in a few places.

Local artist Robert Zhao Renhui is representing the country with a showcase at the Singapore Pavilion.And for the first time ever, artworks from the National Gallery Singapore (NGS) are also included in the biennale’s main exhibition.

Eight artworks from the NGS’ collection will be showcased in Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, a massive exhibit featuring 331 artists by this year’s biennale curator Adriano Pedrosa.

The NGS, which is home to the largest public collection of modern art across Southeast Asia, has loaned works by eight iconic artists from the region including Singapore’s Georgette Chen and Chua Mia Tee, and Indonesia’s Affandi and Hendra Gunawan. The works – which are all portraits – are part of the Nucleo Storico section of the exhibition.

This year marks Singapore’s 11th time participating in the biennale, which is in its 60th edition. The event runs until Nov 24.

Held once every two years, the Venice Biennale is considered to be the “Olympics of the art world’ and traditionally sees scores of international artists participate in contemporary art exhibitions in the sprawling spaces of the Giardini and the Arsenale.

NGS chief executive officer Eugene Tan said the museum’s participation this year would spotlight artists and art from Singapore and Southeast Asia, facilitating “crucial dialogues”.

“National Gallery Singapore is proud to present works from its collection in the 60th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Together with artists largely from the Global South, these eight portraits will deepen the understanding of modern art in Southeast Asia within a global context,” he said.

Meanwhile,Zhao, who is known for his works tackling issues regarding nature in urbanised Singapore, is presenting Seeing Forest together with curator Kim Hae-ju at the Singapore Pavilion located at the Arsenale complex. The exhibit was commissioned by the National Arts Council and organised by the Singapore Art Museum.

“It’s an immensely proud moment for me as an artist to be able to tell the stories that I've been interested in, which is very, I think, Singaporean in a way. I'm just very happy that I could have the opportunity to present these stories on the world stage," Zhao told CNA Lifestyle.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, who was in Venice for the opening of Singapore Pavilion on Wednesday (Apr 17), said that the government is committed to supporting internationalisation opportunities for Singapore artists.

"The Venice Biennale is a very important platform for us to showcase the best of Singapore's visual art, and for our artists to be connected to the pulse of the international arts scene.”

He added that the government is committed to supporting opportunities for Singapore artists.

“By actively participating in internationalisation opportunities with our artists establishingthemselves on the world stage, Singapore aims to be more deeply and intimately connected globally to the arts sector and also to grow international demand to build a strong creative ecosystem for our arts scene.”

Mr Tong also noted that Singapore’s contemporary arts scene continues to burgeon back home, with “an exciting year-round arts calendar” that saw Singapore Art Week in January, fairs such as Art SG and SEA Focus as well as the upcoming Singapore International Festival of the Arts in May.

“Over the years, we have created a dynamic, flourishing and distinctive arts scene, one that celebrates our unique cultural heritage, while at the same time always remaining outward-looking, open to ideas, open to innovation and change,” he said.