Singapore Biennale: The long lens of history

THESE PAST TWO months have been extraordinary for Singapore's arts and culture scene. The Singapore Writers Festival in November was the most socially-inclusive and politically-relevant it's ever been, fearlessly engaging in issues such as feminism, race and queer identities rarely talked about in public in a government-funded event.

Then came the Singapore Biennale with its politically-themed works by over 70 artists and artist collectives, touching on everything from the Khmer Rouge rule in 1970s Cambodia to the current protests in Hong Kong.

Some works have labyrinthine textual components that need to be patiently leafed through to get even a basic understanding of. Others are video installations running for well over an hour. Even the seemingly straightforward sculptures and paintings force you to stop and scrutinise them at length to recognise the measure of their twisted beauty.