SINGAPORE.- Singapore Art Museum (SAM) announces the return of the Singapore Biennale (SB2025) from 31 October 2025 to 29 March 2026. Organised by SAM and commissioned by the National Arts Council, Singapore (NAC), the eighth edition of the Biennale is held in conjunction with the celebration of Singapore’s 60th year of independence. Presenting contemporary art in multiple venues and public spaces across Singapore, SB2025 invites audiences of all walks of life to reimagine Singapore with pure intention, experiencing its many layers built by all of those who have been a part of its history, collectively creating a city that is as planned as it is full of discovery, surprises and interesting juxtapositions. On the occasion of SG60, Singaporeans are encouraged to reflect on our historic milestones, past aspirations and to imagine possible collective futures ahead. Through an exploration of art in everyday environments, audiences will be engaged to see familiar spaces in Singapore with fresh eyes and new perspectives.

The Biennale unites diverse perspectives from art collectives, institutions and organisations from Singapore and overseas. Curators Duncan Bass, Hsu Fang-Tze, Ong Puay Khim and Selene Yap invited contributions from independent organisations and curatorial collectives around the world, namely Hyphen— (Indonesia), SAVVY Contemporary (Germany), Asian Film Archive (Singapore), Hothouse (Singapore) and The Packet (Sri Lanka). Together, they will bring new and existing projects by local and international artists, as well as artist-run initiatives, into public spaces around Singapore, including a strong representation of local and regional artists and content.

In a joint statement, the curators shared that, “Pure intention facilitates deep engagement with Singapore’s rapidly changing social and urban environment, inviting reflection on the intersection of tradition and modernity. This Biennale explores how art can act as a lens through which we better understand the complexities of space, identity, and transformation. Artists engage with the city’s evolving landscape architecturally, socially, and culturally—offering fresh perspectives on what it means to navigate and shape urban life in a time of flux. Through their works, we are encouraged to reconsider our relationship to place, history, and each other, fostering dialogue that is both timely and timeless in its resonance. We are excited to invite curatorial contributions from Asian Film Archive, Hothouse, Hyphen—, SAVVY Contemporary, and The Packet, in hopes that they might challenge our own pure intentions.”

Eugene Tan, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Singapore Art Museum, said, “We are excited to bring back the Singapore Biennale with pure intention, as we rediscover Singapore’s complex, multifaceted identity through contemporary art. Now in its eighth edition, the Biennale is driven by meaningful local and international exchange that marks our artistic evolution in Southeast Asia and beyond. Through the distinct vision of the Biennale’s curatorial network, we will meet audiences where they are by embedding artistic presentations in spaces of everyday life, offering new perspectives on Singapore’s urban environment. We hope that local audiences and international visitors will be inspired to see our city anew and imagine possible futures together.”

Low Eng Teong, Chief Executive of NAC, said, “The Singapore Biennale is a leading contemporary art platform that has served as a pivotal meeting point for artists, curators, thinkers, and audiences from around the world. As we celebrate SG60 in 2025, it is timely for the Biennale to keep our urban landscape at the heart of its exploration, inviting audiences to reflect on our world and sensibilities through contemporary art. We look forward to people of all ages and backgrounds coming together at SB2025, as they venture into our distinctive city, and engage in new ways of seeing and thinking.”

Uncovering the many facets of Singapore through art in public spaces

This edition will showcase art in several public spaces throughout Singapore, weaving curatorial and cultural conversations into everyday life. Come October 2025, the public can look forward to discovering unexpected visual connections at locations familiar to them, from the urban to the natural environments within Singapore’s landscape. For the first time in its history, the Biennale will have a significant presence embedded in sites across Fort Canning Park and by the Rail Corridor, engaging with spaces ranging from pre-colonial and colonial landmarks transformed into public, green areas repurposed for recreation, residential neighbourhoods and lived spaces, to shopping centres that have evolved into social spaces for Singapore’s diverse communities. Guided by pure intention, artists and audiences will be drawn into paying attention to the rituals, histories, lived experiences and aspirations that have shaped our environments and urban lives.

A significant platform in the global contemporary art network

The Singapore Biennale is a premier international platform that celebrates the vibrant and diverse contemporary art scene of Southeast Asia. By fostering international collaborations, amplifying regional artistic practices, and positioning Singapore as a gateway to artistic exchange in the region, the Singapore Biennale sparks critical dialogue worldwide. As part of Singapore’s SG60 celebrations, SB2025 reflects Singapore's cultural aspirations by bringing contemporary art into daily life. This fosters a mutual appreciation for art within the community and the collective imagination of a shared future for Singapore.

More information on the participating artists, venues and programmes will be released later in 2025.