exhibition
Our Children
TANG DA WU
Date and time
12 Jan – 4 Feb 2024
11am - 7pm daily (and until 10pm on 20 Jan and 27 Jan)
Venue
Art Outreach, 5 Lock Road #01-06 Singapore 108933
Special Programme: Performance by Tang Da Wu
20 January 2024, Saturday 6 - 7pm
Held at Gillman Barracks Carpark B
Embark on an exploration of Singapore's artistic legacies through the work of eminent artist, Tang Da Wu. A pivotal figure in the local art scene, Tang challenged the norms of his time, ushering in an era of freedom and experimentation. At 80, his commitment to pushing artistic boundaries remains resolute.
Our Children draws inspiration from a Teochew opera story where a young boy experiences enlightenment witnessing a baby goat suckling—an image that becomes a parable for respect, filial piety, and the importance of cultural values.
Initially presented in 2012 as a sculpture and later transformed into a series of participatory performances throughout 2017, the work invited performers to actively contribute to stitching the towering image onto a canvas and to re-enact the story under Tang's guidance. Tang's teaching philosophy, marked by a collaborative and facilitative approach, emphasises dialogue and grants performers the freedom to interpret his guidance—an invitation now extended to the audience.
For Singapore Art Week 2024, Art Outreach presents a re-examination of this poignant performance, inviting the public to witness a new activation and delve into archival materials and interviews, while reflecting on the ever-present questions within Tang’s art. Displayed alongside Our Children is a curated selection of artworks from private collections that explores themes of parenting, and speaks to the enduring legacy of Tang Da Wu's body of work.