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Singapore at the Venice Biennale: 'Space to Imagine, Room for Everyone'
The Singapore Pavilion gives the world a peek inside HDB flats with its whimsical-yet-pensive installation
Chiquit Brammall
30 May 2016
Design journalist and freelance editor. Dollhouse architect. Serial renter.
The Venice Biennale, the original international art event that happens every other year, opened on 26 May, 2016. This edition, curated by 2016 Pritzker Prize-winning architect Alejandro Aravena, also features the 15th International Architecture Exhibition.
In keeping with his oeuvre of architecture responding to real-world problems, the theme for this Biennale is Reporting from the Front, looking “at the battles and frontiers that need to be won and expanded in order to improve the quality of the built environment and consequently people’s quality of life”.
In keeping with his oeuvre of architecture responding to real-world problems, the theme for this Biennale is Reporting from the Front, looking “at the battles and frontiers that need to be won and expanded in order to improve the quality of the built environment and consequently people’s quality of life”.
Photos by Teo Yee Chin
In response, the Singapore Pavilion, commissioned by the DesignSingapore Council and curated by the Department of Architecture of the National University of Singapore (NUS), presented Space to Imagine, Room for Everyone. The Singapore Pavilion makes use of 81 Italian hand-moulded glass lanterns, arranged in a grid, shining out images of HDB living in both two- and three-dimensions.
In response, the Singapore Pavilion, commissioned by the DesignSingapore Council and curated by the Department of Architecture of the National University of Singapore (NUS), presented Space to Imagine, Room for Everyone. The Singapore Pavilion makes use of 81 Italian hand-moulded glass lanterns, arranged in a grid, shining out images of HDB living in both two- and three-dimensions.
The Singapore Pavilion was opened by President Tony Tan Keng Yam. Although the Biennale awarded Spain, Japan and Peru as the top pavilion designs on the inauguration on 28 May, the Singapore Pavilion is proving to be quite popular.
Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim says, “The Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Biennale reflects the pervasiveness of design in how Singapore has built our communities, shaped the living environment and made Singapore a liveable city.”
Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim says, “The Singapore Pavilion at the Venice Biennale reflects the pervasiveness of design in how Singapore has built our communities, shaped the living environment and made Singapore a liveable city.”
“The Singapore Pavilion emphasises how the built environment is intertwined with people by outlining the frontiers that need to expand to improve the quality of life. By helping the community to take ownership and participate in the development of their surrounding landscape, we will be able to foster emotional connections and shared memories of the city with its people,” says Mr Jeffrey Ho, Executive Director of DesignSingapore Council and Commissioner of Singapore Pavilion.
Associate Professor Wong Yunn Chii, Lead Curator of Singapore Pavilion and Head of Architecture, National University of Singapore adds: “Space to Imagine, Room for Everyone shares with the global audience, the challenges in Singapore’s next stage of development; especially how individuals, enterprises and ground-up actions are making a palpable difference. As small ‘battles’ in its home-front, the selections provide a poignant account on how design improves the quality of the built environment and people’s lives”.
The Co-Curators of the Singapore Pavilion are senior lecturer Mr Tomohisa Miyauchi and Mr Teo Yee Chin, principal and founder of Red Bean Architects. Mr Teo Yee Chin is also the designer of the exhibition.
The Venice Biennale is ongoing till 27 November. The Singapore Pavilion is located at the Sale d’Armi building (Arsenale region).
TELL US
If you’ve been or are going to the Venice Biennale, let us know in the Comments how the Singapore Pavilion is doing.
The Co-Curators of the Singapore Pavilion are senior lecturer Mr Tomohisa Miyauchi and Mr Teo Yee Chin, principal and founder of Red Bean Architects. Mr Teo Yee Chin is also the designer of the exhibition.
The Venice Biennale is ongoing till 27 November. The Singapore Pavilion is located at the Sale d’Armi building (Arsenale region).
TELL US
If you’ve been or are going to the Venice Biennale, let us know in the Comments how the Singapore Pavilion is doing.
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