The best upcoming art exhibitions in Singapore

Richard Koh Fine Art (RKFA) is ending the year on a high note with an anniversary double-bill show in Malaysia and Singapore to celebrate the galleries turning 15 and 10 respectively. In Our Own Frame runs simultaneously in both countries, showcasing works by artists in both countries. At the gallery here, look out for works by local artists the likes of Ben Puah, Faris Nakamura, Hu Qiren, Melissa Tan, Mengju Lin. 

Singapore Art Museum – in collaboration with National Gallery Singapore – introduces Time Passes, a timely response to the challenging times plaguing Singapore's arts sector. As part of a nationwide art initiative Proposals For Novel Ways of Being, the new exhibition is guest curated by Samantha Yap and conceived as a corridor of time that echoes the indeterminate passage of our days as we navigate the pandemic that is still raging on – and the detritus it will leave behind. 

Conceptualised during the 'circuit breaker', the exhibition stages our return to one another and to shared public spaces. The works in the exhibition manifest acts of care-taking through the handling of different materials, and the commitment towards uncovering possibilities of living and relating even during tumultuous times.

As part of the art initiative, Proposals for Novel Ways of Being, National Gallery Singapore introduces its latest visual feast: An Exercise of Meaning in a Glitch Season. The Gallery's space is decked by the immersive, mixed-media installations, sound and movement performances, and site-specific artistic interventions of 10 young Singapore-based artists including Kin Chui, Priyageetha Dia, Aki Hassan, Ila, and Norah Lea. These intriguing works aim to turn on the light bulb on new ways of thinking and doing, all for a more humane future.

Following the 2014 exhibition in Paris marking the 130th anniversary of the legendary train, the pop-up attraction Once Upon A Time on The Orient Express is set to open on December 12, running for six months straight at the West Lawn of Gardens by the Bay. 

The attraction marks the exhibition's first destination outside of France, kickstarting a series of showcase that unveils a fairy-tale universe related to travel, culture and gastronomy. See with your own eyes some of the most extraordinary objects and documents to showcase centuries of history that retraces the legacy of the train, allowing you to discover events that transformed the world and shaped the map. 

French artist Louis Granet is having his first solo exhibition in the region at Cuturi Gallery. Alongside his prominent flower paintings, Granet will be showcasing a new series of paintings that draw specific references to Asian popular culture. For En Plein Chic, Granet will be presenting a new series of paintings that focus on Asian popular culture. This selection of paintings features iconic characters from Japanese manga and anime series, such as Astro Boy, Hello Kitty and Doraemon – alongside packets of instant ramen noodles and confectionary commonly found in convenience stores or supermarkets within the region. 

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The global pandemic has upended our lives in ways big and small – shifting our daily routines, our movement and interactions with those around us. Under the Skin, curated by artist Cheong Kah Kit, brings together George Chua, Nina Djekić and Noor Effendy Ibrahim to explore these changes in performative sequences of sound and visual art. What's special is their collaboration with Singapore artist, filmmaker and cinematographer Russell Morton, who captures their works on film. These three works made available online on NTU Centre for Contemporary Art's channels as part of their contribution to Proposals for Novel Ways of Being, a community-wide movement to support local artists in these difficult times.