Singapore Art Museum Unveils Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger in Groundbreaking Exhibition

The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) proudly presents the first mid-career survey exhibition of critically acclaimed Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen. Titled “Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger,” the solo exhibition showcases two decades of the artist’s groundbreaking work, featuring eight major installations, including an exclusive commission titled T for Time. Co-organized by SAM and Art Sonje Center (ASJC), this exhibition offers a unique insight into Ho’s transformative practice over the years.

International Recognition for a Visionary Artist

Ho Tzu Nyen, a visual artist, writer, theatre-maker, and filmmaker, stands as one of the most internationally recognized contemporary artists from Singapore. His practice challenges conventional hierarchies, delving into the complexities of identity, storytelling, and the passage of time in Asia, especially since the Second World War. Ho’s works, narrated through a constellation of characters, have garnered international acclaim for their critical engagement with cultural, ecological, and historical forces.

Time & the Tiger: Unraveling the Threads of History

The exhibition’s title, “Time & the Tiger,” reflects Ho’s fascination with the dispersion of tigers across Asia over time. Tigers serve as powerful emblems, allowing us to contemplate time through various scales—from the geological transformation of the Asian continent to the cosmological realm of ancestral memory. For Ho, time is a multi-dimensional matrix shaped by cultural, ecological, and historical forces.

Major Artworks Take Center Stage

Taking over Galleries 1 and 2 at SAM, the exhibition showcases major artworks drawn largely from SAM’s collection, forming the curatorial core of the retrospective. Iconic works include “The Cloud of Unknowing” (2011), “The Name” (2015-2017), “The Nameless” (2015), “CDOSEA” (2017), “One or Several Tigers” (2017), and “Hotel Aporia” (2019). “Hotel Aporia,” a central work, is presented as a site-specific installation, immersing visitors in the architectural style of a Japanese inn.

New Commission: T for Time

As part of SAM’s commitment to championing Singaporean artists, the museum has commissioned the new work “T for Time” (2023), a two-channel video installation that explores cultural histories of time across Asia. Co-commissioned with ASJC and in collaboration with international partners, this new work underlines SAM’s effort to globalize support for contemporary artists from Singapore and the region.

Global Tour and Curatorial Collaboration

Following its premiere at SAM, “Ho Tzu Nyen: Time & the Tiger” will travel to various international venues, including ASJC in Seoul and Hessel Museum of Art in New York. SAM, ASJC, and international partners are actively collaborating to tailor the exhibition to diverse curatorial interests and institutional contexts. The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue featuring critical texts by curators and the artist.

Engaging the Community

SAM aims to bring contemporary art closer to local communities by presenting art programming in everyday spaces. In addition to the exhibition, visitors can catch the television series “4×4 – Episodes of Singapore Art (2005)”—created by Ho Tzu Nyen for national television—at public libraries in Jurong, Queenstown, Tampines, and Woodlands.

Public Programs and Exhibition Details

Complementary public programs at Tanjong Pagar Distripark include an artist’s keynote lecture, storytelling sessions, family-friendly activations, puzzle games, and curator tours.

The exhibition runs from 24 November 2023 to 3 March 2024, at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark, with subsequent showings in Seoul and New York. General admission is free for Singaporeans and PRs at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark.