Art Attacks!

The Merlion City roars with cutting-edge creativity in January as the Singapore Art Week (SAW) arrives

Despite its tiny size, Singapore regularly amazes visitors with some of the region’s biggest cultural showcases. For its latest extravaganza, the island is treating aesthetes to a weeklong tour of the buzzing art scene in Southeast Asia and beyond.

The 12th edition of Singapore Art Week (SAW), the region’s longest-running arts event, will engulf the city in a wave of creativity from January 19 to 28.

SAW 2024 will welcome local and international artists, art aficionados, collectors, and curators with a vibrant programme of events and exhibitions covering indoor and outdoor spaces across the city. Expect the colourful atmosphere to open new wellsprings of creativity in the regional art scene.

Highlights to look out for include “Light to Night Singapore 2024”, which will illuminate downtown with immersive projections and art installations, and the ground-breaking “Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America” for a comparison of colonialism through the eyes of convention-defying artists from both regions.

SAW also brings art and science together through “Immortal Words”, a collaboration between Indonesian-born artist Boedi Widjaja and geneticist Eric Yap, or the 5th VH Award exhibition where emerging multimedia artists will explore the boundaries of art and technology. These are just a small sample of the vibrant feast of art at SAW 2024, sealing Singapore’s reputation as the regional hub of creativity and fresh vision. January 19-28, www.artweek.sg

Starry Creation

Only a few minutes’ walk from Bangkok’s Phrom Phong Skytrain station, the small and homey Stella Art café makes a gigantic impression with its fiesta of colours. Step through its doors and you find a workshop dedicated to Benjarong, where visitors can participate in making these traditional Thai ceramics.

Derived from Sanskrit, “Benjarong” means pottery of five colours. This sophisticated ceramicware dates back to the Ayutthaya Era, when it was reserved exclusively for royal family members and noblemen. Fast forward to the present day, and anyone interested can craft their own Benjarong beauties by selecting from the café’s collection of mugs, dishes, cups, saucers and more, before painting it in their unique combination of 30 standard colours under the attentive guidance of the café’s staff. Stella Art Café will then fire your creation in its kiln, allowing you to pick up your one-of-a-kind Benjarong after one week, or have it delivered to your doorstep. Let the creativity flow! Open Monday-Saturday, stellaartcafe.com/en