Nestled on the banks of the Singapore River alongside the myriad of cafes and bars on Robertson Quay, you'll find STPI – Creative Workshop & Gallery. The not-for-profit organisation is a strong advocate of artistic experimentation in the mediums of print and paper, boasting contemporary artworks in collaboration with various international curators, collectors and gallerists. In fact, STPI has attracted talents in Singapore and the region the likes of Amanda Heng, Eko Nugroho, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Russel Wong, Hong Zhu An, Heman Chong and Goh Beng Kwan.
STPI has left such a massive imprint in Singapore's arts scene that it can be hard to believe that it was only established in 2002. Since its inception, it has become one of the most cutting-edge destinations for contemporary art in Asia. There are two parts here: its Gallery and Creative Workshop space.
At its Creative Workshop space, you’ll find artists in residency – both local and international –who challenge conventions in art with lithography, etching, screenprint, papermaking and relief print. The workshop is bolstered by specialised facilities and run by a highly qualified team of professional printmakers and papermakers. There is a Guest Studio available for booking for practising printmakers and printmaking-trained students. Additionally, STPI also hold hands-on workshops and programmes for the public.
The Gallery, on the other hand, hosts specially curated exhibitions of works produced in the Creative Workshop, nurturing and sustaining local and international interest in both its collaborators and in the mediums of print and paper. The gallery is free to the public and has showcased works from artists like Takashi Murakami, Genevieve Chua, Pinaree Sanpitak and Melati Suryodarmo. Heman Chong's solo exhibition, Peace Prosperity And Friendship With All Nations, is currently running until April 18.
STPI is part of the national Visual Arts Cluster of leading institutions in the region, alongside institutions such as the National Gallery Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum.