S.E.A. Focus 2026 Concludes Acclaimed Eighth Edition with Inaugural Presentation at ART SG

S.E.A. Focus, Singapore’s homegrown platform dedicated to Southeast Asian contemporary art, has successfully concluded its eighth edition, marking a major milestone with its first-ever presentation at ART SG, the region’s leading international art fair. Held over four days at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, the showcase formed part of ART SG 2026, which welcomed more than 43,000 visitors.

The inaugural co-presentation generated strong engagement from collectors, curators, and the wider public, creating a vibrant platform that connected Southeast Asian artists and galleries with an international audience. Alongside its curated presentations, S.E.A. Focus also delivered a thought-provoking talks programme, reinforcing its role as a key convenor for critical dialogue in the region.

Exploring “The Humane Agency”

Curated for the third time by John Z.W. Tung, with artistic consultation from Emi Eu, Executive Director of STPI, S.E.A. Focus 2026 unfolded under the theme The Humane Agency. The edition brought together artists whose practices respond to urgent global concerns including conflict and peace-building, ecological vulnerability, and the movement of communities across borders.

Through these works, S.E.A. Focus positioned artists and galleries as active agents of change, capable of reawakening compassion, ethical responsibility, and collective imagination in uncertain times.

Strong Regional and International Gallery Presence

This year’s edition featured 16 galleries, more than half of which operate permanent spaces in Singapore, reflecting the city’s growing importance as a regional art hub.

Highlights included ShanghART Gallery (Singapore, Shanghai, Beijing), which presented works by Singaporean artist Robert Zhao Renhui, who represented Singapore at the 2024 Venice Biennale, alongside pieces by acclaimed Indonesian performance artist Melati Suryodarmo. Suryodarmo also delivered a powerful live performance, I Love You, presented through ART SG’s partnership with the UBS Art Collection.

Mr. Lim’s Shop of Visual Treasures (Singapore) showcased works by leading local artists including Tang Da Wu, Jewell Dalina, Noc Vvyne Lim, and Samuel Chen, offering a compelling snapshot of Singapore’s diverse contemporary art practices.

International galleries further amplified Southeast Asian voices. neugerriemschneider (Berlin) centred its presentation on Ho Tzu Nyen’s video installation Night March of Hundred Monsters – 36 Ghosts (2021). ISA Art Gallery (Jakarta) featured works by Indonesian artists Arahmaiani and Ines Katamso, while Silverlens (Manila, New York) presented mixed-media works by Filipino artists Imelda Cajipe Endaya and Nicole Coson, bridging generations and perspectives within the Philippine contemporary art scene.

SEAspotlight Talks Foster Dialogue and Exchange

Complementing the exhibition was SEAspotlight Talks 2026, curated by Clara Che Wei Peh, which expanded the platform for dialogue and exchange around Southeast Asian contemporary art. Held at the ART SG Talks Theatre, the programme featured panels and conversations that explored artistic agency in practice.

Highlights included Moulding Futures, a panel featuring artists Lawrence Lek and Jo Ho, alongside Chris John Fussner, Founder of Tropical Futures, examining how artistic ideas evolve into sustained initiatives. Another key session, Staying with the Trouble, brought together Arahmaiani, Shubigi Rao, and Kristian-Marc James Paul, moderated by Zoe Butt, to discuss navigating uncertainty and complexity as a pathway towards ethical and hopeful futures.

Additional fireside chats at the SEAspotlight Talks Area featured voices such as interdisciplinary artist and film sound designer Corinne de San Jose and Megan Arlin, Co-founder and Director of ara contemporary, reinforcing the belief that meaningful agency emerges through sustained artistic practice.

Global Attention and Regional Impact

S.E.A. Focus 2026 welcomed prominent collectors and institutional representatives from around the world, many of whom praised its debut within ART SG for its clarity of vision and dynamic presentation of Southeast Asian contemporary art.