Art Takes Over The Island

INTERNATIONAL ART HEAVYWEIGHTS such as Kehinde Wiley (who painted Barack Obama's iconic portrait), Yinka Shonibare (who's collected by MOMA and Tate) and El Anatsui (Venice Biennale 2015's Golden Lion winner for Lifetime Achievement) are among those whose artworks can be seen at Singapore Art Week, the country's biggest showcase of visual arts.

The island-wide event, running from Jan 11 to 19, features over 100 programmes and thousands of artworks. Art cluster Gillman Barracks will turn into a champagne glass-clinking party destination. Two cavernous warehouses have been repurposed into makeshift galleries showing large-scale works. And many of the established art spaces - such as museums and galleries - are mounting hot new shows.

"Art takes over" is the tagline for this year's Singapore Art Week. And the three organising bodies, the National Arts Council, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Singapore Economic Development Board, are determined to live up to it. The neighbourhoods of Jurong, Tampines, Toa Payoh, Macpherson and Joo Chiat each boast a focal point, while Kampong Glam and Little India proudly wear their street cred with sprawling wall murals, live music gigs and more.