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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.

Also Featuring Works By

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About the Artist: Tang Da Wu

Tang Da Wu (b. 1943) is an iconic figure in the contemporary Asian art scene. While working in various media, he is best known for his performances and installations. Noted for co-founding The Artists' Village in Singapore in the 1980s, Tang raised awareness of social and environmental issues through mythological narratives in his work. In his practice, provocation and commentary are as important as aesthetic concerns. Emphasizing the interactions between individuals as a collective working process, Tang describes himself as the medium through which his audience works—a method challenging the conventional performer-audience relationship. Recipient of the Visual Arts Award from the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1978 and the Artist Award from the Greater London Arts Council in 1983, Tang received the 10th Fukuoka Asian Culture Prize in Arts and Culture in 1999. He has held solo exhibitions globally and participated in international group exhibitions, including the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007. His work, "Our Children, 2012," is part of the Guggenheim Museum, New York's collection.

ORGANISED BY

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SUPPORTED BY

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PART OF

About Art Outreach

Non-profit arts intermediary in Singapore, established in 2003, promoting art appreciation, affording access to art, and supporting visual art practitioners.

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