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Everything's in a constant flux of change these days, with various shops and businesses being shuttered. Just this week, BooksActually announced that it's closing its physical store in Tiong Bahru and is going fully online. But here's bittersweet news: as SingLit lovers mourn the loss of the independent bookstore, the neighbourhood welcomes a new resident to 7 Yong Siak Street, Hatch Art Project.
The contemporary art gallery, which opened in 2018 on the first floor of Asia Square Tower 1 has injected some life (and colour) to the CBD since its inception. Hatch Art Project prides itself in being a platform for emerging artists from the region – so the colourful, mural-splashed neighbourhood seems to be a perfect fit. Recently, the gallery's brought art by Indonesian artist Natisa Jones' online, showcasing a her acrylic paintings and paper works that are informed by the ebbs and flows of time and the duality between the private self and the self as part of a collective.
Hatch Art Project joins two other galleries in the area, ArtBlue Studio – which champions contemporary Vietnamese artists – and Degiosart Gallery, which showcases an eclectic mix of vintage furniture, paintings, antiques and artwork from Europe and Asia. So art lovers can spend a day weaving in and out of these exciting art spaces, fueled by (artisanal) coffee.
To commemorate its move, the gallery is throwing a Grand Opening Show on September 24 from 1pm to 8pm. Head on down and marvel at twelve new artworks by five of the region's premier artists: namely Iabadiou Piko (Indonesia), Tawan Wattuya (Thailand), Reuel Rendon (Philippines), Natisa Jones (Indonesia), and Gunwoo Shin (Korea). If any of the names ring a bell, you've probably seen their works at Art Jakarta Virtual 2020. So mark your calendars and make a trip down to Yong Siak Street to welcome Hatch Art Project to its new 'hood.
Read more:
BooksActually closes its physical store in Tiong Bahru and goes online
Meet the Singaporean artist who creates surrealist collages on Instagram
The ultimate guide to Tiong Bahru