History of Singapore art

Organised as a two-part series of lectures with an accompanying field trip, this course will introduce participants to the rich history of Singapore art from the early 20th century to the 1990s. It will highlight notable artists, art movements and artworks that have defined Singapore’s art history.

There will also be a field trip to learn more about Singapore’s art history (entrance fee is applicable to any gallery or museum visit).

About the trainer
Jeffrey Say is an art historian specialising in Singapore and Southeast Asian art history who has undertaken pioneering research and study of sculpture in pre- and post-war Singapore. In 2009, he designed the world’s first postgraduate programme focusing on Asian modern and contemporary art histories at LASALLE College of the Arts, for which he is the Programme Leader.

A public advocate of the importance of art history to Singapore, Jeffrey is a frequent public speaker at museums, universities and galleries, and conducts short courses which remain hugely popular. He is the co-editor of Histories, Practices, Interventions: A Reader in Singapore Contemporary Art (Institute of Contemporary Arts Singapore, 2016) and Intersections, Institutions, Innovations: A Reader in Singapore Modern Art (World Scientific, 2022), which remain critical anthologies for researchers, curators and students on Singapore art. He is also the co-author of the Exploring Southeast Asia With… series of books (Penguin Random House, 2022).

Note: Course trainers are, on occasion, subject to change with short notice.