Singapore Biennale: Bang or bust?

IN the art world, biennales have become something of a competitive sport among global cities. Who can showcase the most challenging, jaw-dropping art? Who can secure the biggest, most exciting artists? Who can draw the highest number of visitors?

The top biennales and triennales of the world such as Venice and Lyon are not short on big names such as Ai Wei Wei, Jeff Koons or Cindy Sherman. In fact, when the Singapore Biennale debuted in 2006, it also paid good money to attract big names such as Yayoi Kusama, Mariko Mori and Jenny Holzer.

But for the fourth Singapore Biennale that opens tom…