S.E.A. FOCUS 2025

Wei-Ling Gallery is pleased to announce its participation in the sixth edition of S.E.A. Focus in 2025 with ‘Disconnected Contemporaries’, an exploration of Southeast Asia’s evolving art landscape. Curated by John Tung, the exhibition examines the fluid transition between the Modern and Contemporary, reflecting a region in transformation. It questions how timelines, cultures, and histories intertwine and overlap, revealing both shared and divergent narratives that shape Southeast Asia’s artistic evolution.

The Gallery presents works by leading Malaysian contemporary artists Ivan Lam and Rajinder Singh, each offering unique perspectives on critical global and regional themes.

Ivan Lam presents three pieces, including a new diptych, addressing the human condition within the context of geopolitical conflict. The first canvas conveys the anguish of 44 global conflicts, its surface awash in red with the names of wars inscribed along the edges. The use of the number 44, symbolising death in Chinese culture, adds a poignant layer to the work, reflecting on the futility and trauma of warfare.

In contrast, the second piece incorporates remnants from the first, symbolising a shift from chaos to contemplation. Crosshair motifs scattered across the canvas highlight the dehumanisation of modern warfare, where technological distance obscures human suffering. Collectively, these two works engage with the complexities of war, memory, and humanity.

Duality has been a continuous theme in Ivan Lam’s practice, exploring contrasts such as presence and absence, past and present, the seen and unseen, and what is said versus what is meant. His works provoke reflection on these tensions, offering a nuanced perspective on the contrast of opposites.

Rajinder Singh’s work investigates the legacies of colonialism through sculptures crafted from Sikh turban fabric. These pieces emphasise the gestures and rhythms of turban tying as acts of resilience and cultural identity. Serving as metaphors for invisible labour, the sculptures honour the spirit of Sikh ‘sewa’ (service). Singh’s use of unconventional materials bridges the modernist pursuit of innovation with the critical engagement of contemporary art practices.

Singh’s accompanying poetry and paintings expand on postcolonial narratives, addressing social, political, and cultural issues that shape present-day discourse. Together, his works propose paths of resistance and healing from the residual impacts of colonial rule, engaging viewers in dialogues about identity, migration, and justice.

Rajinder Singh’s paintings in this exhibition draw inspiration from the dynamic style of Peter Paul Rubens, the Baroque master celebrated for his dramatic compositions, vigorous movement, and emotional intensity. This connection reflects a modernist interest in revisiting and reinterpreting historical styles and techniques, positioning Singh’s works within a continuum of artistic evolution.

VISITOR INFORMATION

17th January 2025 (Vernissage), 6PM – 9PM

18th – 26th January 2025 (Public Days), 1PM – 8PM

Venue: Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Rd, Singapore 089065