HISTORIES, PRACTICES, INTERVENTIONS: A READER IN SINGAPORE CONTEMPORARY ART

Histories, Practices, Interventions: A Reader in Singapore Contemporary Art brings together key writings about ideas, practices, issues and art institutions that shape the understanding of contemporary art in Singapore. This reader is conceived as an essential resource for advancing critical debates on post-independence Singapore art and culture. It comprises a total of thirty-three texts by art historians, art theorists, art critics, artists and curators. In addition, there is an introduction by the co-editors, Jeffrey Say and Seng Yu Jin,as well as three section introductions contributed by Seng Yu Jin; artist, curator and writer Susie Wong; and art educator and writer Lim Kok Boon.

Jeffrey Say is an art historian specialising in Singapore and Southeast Asian art history. Say has been instrumental in the development of art history studies at LASALLE College of the Arts. In 2009, he designed the world's first Master's programme focussing on Asian modern and contemporary art histories. He is currently its programme leader. Jeffrey is a public advocate of the importance of art history to Singapore and a regular commentator of the local art scene. He is a frequent public speaker at museums, universities and galleries, and conducts short courses which remain hugely popular among various publics. Jeffrey is a pioneering researcher of pre and post-war sculpture in Singapore and has written essays on Karl Duldig. His co-edited book, Histories, Practices, Interventions: A Reader in Singapore Contemporary Art (2016), remains a critical anthology for researchers, curators and students on Singapore contemporary art.

Seng Yu Jin is a Senior Curator and Deputy Director (Curatorial Research) at The National Gallery Singapore. He obtained his PhD from the University of Melbourne. Seng was previously a lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts in the MA Asian Art Histories and BA Fine Arts programmes, and currently lectures at the National University of Singapore's Minor in Art History programme. His research interests cover regional art histories focusing on Southeast Asian art in relation to the history of exhibitions and artist collectives in Southeast Asia. His selected curatorial projects include From Words to Pictures: Art During the Emergency (2007), Cheong Soo Pieng: Bridging Worlds (2010), the Singapore Biennale, If the World Changed (2013), and Awakenings: Art in Society in Asia, 1960s to 1990s (2019). Among his publications are Histories, Practices, Interventions: A Reader in Singapore Contemporary Art (co-editor, 2016) and Singapore Chronicles: Art (co-author, 2019).