S.E.A. Focus 2026 Makes Its Debut at ART SG, Spotlighting Southeast Asian Artists as Agents of Compassion

S.E.A. Focus, the homegrown platform dedicated to Southeast Asian contemporary art, enters a new chapter this year with its debut presentation at ART SG 2026, the region’s leading international art fair. Bringing together 16 galleries, the showcase amplifies the visibility of Southeast Asian artists on the global stage while offering audiences and collectors an integrated platform for discovery, dialogue and exchange. Together, S.E.A. Focus and ART SG serve as an anchor event of Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2026.

Curated for the third time by John Tung, with artistic consultation by Emi Eu, Executive Director of STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery, the 2026 edition is framed by the theme The Humane Agency. The curatorial concept positions artists as agents of compassion, responding to today’s most pressing global challenges through empathy, care and critical reflection.

Art as a Force for Empathy and Care

In an era marked by uncertainty around borders, environments and belonging, The Humane Agency brings together artistic practices that respond to crisis not with detachment, but with sensitivity and human connection. The works on view engage with themes of conflict and peace, ecological fragility, and the movement of communities across borders, positioning art as a vital force that slows perception, deepens understanding and reawakens a shared capacity for compassion.

Southeast Asia at the Forefront

The 2026 edition places a strong spotlight on Singapore’s dynamic visual arts ecosystem, with more than half of the participating galleries operating spaces in the city, a reflection of Singapore’s growing role as a regional hub for contemporary art.

Highlights include Richard Koh Fine Art (Singapore, Bangkok), which presents works by Singaporean textile artist Samuel Xun from his Decorative Disobedience series. Comprising 24 gilded, text-based canvases, the works use language to explore themes of social commentary, belonging and protection. STPI (Singapore) showcases the installation-based practice of artist duo Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan, while ShanghART Gallery (Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing) presents a multi-artist showcase featuring Singaporean artists Robert Zhao and Amanda Heng, alongside Indonesian performance artist Melati Suryodarmo.

Other Singapore-based galleries participating in S.E.A. Focus include Mizuma Gallery, Gajah Gallery, Mr. Lim’s Shop of Visual Treasures, AC43 Gallery, Intersections Gallery, and Wetterling Teo Gallery.

Regional Voices and Global Perspectives

Leading galleries from across Southeast Asia and beyond further expand the scope of the showcase. neugerriemschneider (Berlin) centres its presentation on Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen’s video installation Night March of Hundred Monsters – 36 Ghosts (2021), inspired by Japanese folklore surrounding yōkai, or supernatural spirits. ara contemporary (Jakarta) brings together Indonesian artists Mar Kristoff and Enka Komariah in a presentation examining identity, history and marginalisation.

The theme of The Humane Agency is further explored through works by regional artists positioned as agents of change. Silverlens (Manila, New York) presents mixed-media works by Filipino artist Imelda Cajipe Endaya, whose richly layered compositions incorporate textiles and found objects to address issues of cultural identity, reproductive health, globalisation and the environment. Gallery VER (Bangkok) presents Ruangsak Anuwatwimon, whose research-led practice examines ecological loss, including ongoing research into the destruction of the Mekong River and its impact on wildlife.

Also featured is ISA Art Gallery (Jakarta), presenting works by influential Indonesian contemporary artist Arahmaiani, internationally recognised for her incisive commentary on social, political and cultural issues. Additional participating galleries include The Drawing Room (Manila) and Artinformal (Manila).

SEAspotlight Talks

Complementing the exhibition is SEAspotlight Talks, a programme of panel discussions and conversations curated by Singapore-based curator and arts writer Clara Che Wei Peh. The talks examine the future of creative practice and the critical issues shaping Southeast Asian contemporary art today, tracing the non-linear evolution of the region’s art histories and ecosystems.

Highlights include a fireside chat with Megan Arlin, co-founder of ara contemporary, and Lydia Yee, advisor to Muara, on institution-building across different contexts. Another session brings together artist and filmmaker Lawrence Lek, screenwriter-director Jo Ho, and multidisciplinary designer Chris Fussner, exploring how abstract ideas are translated into worlds, structures and sustained creative initiatives.

Additional panels and fireside chats will take place throughout the weekend, offering deeper insights into Southeast Asian contemporary art and its evolving art market. Full programme details are available at seafocus.sg/programme.

Event Details

S.E.A. Focus 2026 will be presented at ART SG from 23 to 25 January 2026, with a VIP Preview and Vernissage on 22 January, at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.