Quick takes: Performance art and new districts take the spotlight

SINGAPORE – As Singapore Art Week (SAW) concludes its 14th edition on Jan 31 and looks forward to a milestone 15th edition in 2027, the flagship visual arts festival finds itself in a moment of flux. The Straits Times notes three things that made a difference at SAW 2026.

1. Performance artists are energising the art fair

For three hours at Art SG, Indonesian artist Melati Suryodarmo carried a pane of tempered glass and continuously chanted “I love you”. At Wan Hai Hotel: Singapore Strait, Philippines-born artist Joshua Serafin’s body glowed in a metallic sheen as he delivered a martial performance.

Singaporean performance art rock star Tang Da Wu, 85, activated his set of everyday art objects at S.E.A. Focus.

Art fairs have often been criticised for homogeneity – the visitor’s eyes simply start to glaze over as thousands of artworks compete for attention.

The debut of Art SG’s performance art sector introduced a different kind of attention economy to the fair, inviting visitors to linger, revisit and traverse the grounds in different ways.

2. New centres of gravity and arts districts are emerging

Previous editions of Art After Dark at Gillman Barracks used to be the life of the party, but a much smaller turnout – after dark and at dawn – is a clue that the centre of gravity is shifting to other art districts.

Thanks to the Singapore Art Museum’s (SAM) sound and performance programme Sonic Shaman, Tanjong Pagar Distripark (TPD) was the cool place to be as multiple performances drew full houses.

New spaces at 37 Keppel Road – the sister block to the more established 39 Keppel Road – injected fresh energy and complemented the assured shows of older tenants. There is even talk that TPD landlord Mapletree has been courting Gillman’s tenants as

the latter site is being studied for new housing

.

River Valley is also shaping up to be a new arts node – with over 70 artists presented. It is more accessible and upscale than TPD,

anchored by large private shows like Tanoto Art Foundation’s at New Bahru and national-level institution STPI hosting a print show and symposium

.

3. More international visitors are coming to town

The appearance of international celebrities like American singer-songwriter Nick Jonas

, Chinese actress Zhu Zhu and South Korean actress Ha Ji-won at SAW might have brought glam, but the bigger story is the growing presence of international collectors, curators and artists.

Regional collectors like Indonesian property tycoon Alexander Tedja and Malaysian lawyer and restaurateur Edward Soo showed up, but also collectors from farther afield such as fashion house Chanel heir David Wertheimer.

Members of the Tate Modern’s acquisition committee and artistic directors of global biennales were on site too. The draw might be the anchor art fair, but organisers of other shows reported a significant spillover of international visitors.

That Singapore – via the Pierre Lorinet Collection and Art Outreach –

managed to snag a solo by Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama

shortly after ArtReview declared him the world’s most influential artist is also a coup.