Alternate Reality and Gutai: Beyond the Canvas

If you’re looking for a fresh dose of art that’ll make you rethink reality and redefine creativity, get ready for two electrifying exhibitions at Tanjong Pagar Distripark.

First up, Alternate Reality at New Art Museum takes your imagination for a ride across Southeast Asia’s quirkiest minds from December 20 to March 2. But forget framed masterpieces – instead, you’ll find art made with human hair, a fresh POV through the unconventional use of sound, and a card game steeped in Indonesian history. Curated by Nim Niyomsin, this vibrant collection by eight artists from across the region unravels how perception shapes reality. From mystical collages by Le Quy Tong and Debbie Ding’s trippy virtual worlds to artist-led tours and hands-on workshops, every corner of this exhibit dares you to challenge the way you see the world. 

Then from January 11 to March 2, next-door neighbour Whitestone Gallery celebrates Japan’s post-war avant-garde rebels who turned art into a full-contact sport with Gutai: Beyond the Canvas. Think dripping paint, tearing canvases, and even dresses lit up with electric bulbs. Tsuyoshi Maekawa’s gritty textures, Shuji Mukai’s performative dimensions, Takesada Matsutani’s use of materials, and Yuko Nasaka’s bold installations prove the Gutai Art Movement was decades ahead of its time. 

Find out more about Alternate Reality here, and Gutai: Beyond the Canvas here.