Dates: October 31, 2025 – March 29, 2026
The 8th edition of the Singapore Biennale, titled Pure Intention, is currently running. Organized by the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) and commissioned by the National Arts Council, this mega art event steps out of the traditional gallery and weaves contemporary art directly into the everyday fabric of the city.
The Curatorial Vision
Led by a curatorial team from SAM (Duncan Bass, Hsu Fang-Tze, Ong Puay Khim, and Selene Yap), Pure Intention aligns with Singapore’s SG60 (Diamond Jubilee) celebrations. 
Rather than a heavy-handed critique, the Biennale takes a softer, peripheral approach to exploring Singapore’s rapid urban development, economically-driven policies, and utilitarian social engineering. The title “Pure Intention” is meant to be read as both deeply sincere and slightly sarcastic, reflecting the complex realities of urban progress and the art world itself.
A City-Wide Canvas
This edition employs a “dispersal method,” scattering over 100 artworks by more than 80 international and regional artists across everyday public spaces. The goal is to make art highly accessible and prompt viewers to look at familiar environments with fresh eyes.
The exhibition is divided across five main geographical clusters:
- Tanjong Pagar Distripark: The home base at the Singapore Art Museum, featuring indoor works that often reference the area’s maritime history. (Note: This is the only venue that charges an admission fee).
- The Civic District & Fort Canning: Historic and institutional spaces, including the National Gallery Singapore and Fort Gate.
- Orchard Road: Unexpected placements in older strata malls like Lucky Plaza and Far East Shopping Centre, quietly contrasting with the street’s hyper-luxury image.
- Tanglin Halt & Wessex Estate: A fascinating juxtaposition between Singapore’s oldest public housing estate (which is slated for redevelopment) and an idyllic cluster of colonial black-and-white houses.
- 20 Anderson Road: The former Raffles Girls’ School, hosting over a dozen installations across its classrooms, workshops, and the school field.
Standout Installations
- Adrian Wong – With Hate From Hong Kong: Located in a Tanglin Halt shophouse, this installation transforms the space into an old Hong Kong film set, exploring cultural lineage and the golden age of cinema.
- Jacqueline Kiyomi Gork – HNZF IV (Harsh Noise Zen Fountains): Situated at Fort Gate, this sonic sculpture combines WWII aerospace scrap and hydrophones to draw parallels between the wartime histories of Okinawa and Singapore.
- Ayesha Singh – Continuous Coexistences (Singapore): Perched atop Fort Canning Hill, this striking sculpture traces the Singapore skyline using a single, unbroken steel bar.
- Tuan Andrew Nguyen – Temple: An immersive, interactive sound-art installation located at the Ng Teng Fong Rooftop Garden at the National Gallery.
