SEA Focus

SEA Focus Southeast Asia’s contemporary art platform. The next edition will be held at ART SG from 23 – 25 January 2026. S.E.A.

Focus is a showcase of contemporary art from Southeast Asia. It aims to bring together a curated selection of some of the finest artists and galleries from across the region to foster a deeper appreciation of contemporary art and artists in Southeast Asia.

For the Singapore Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale( LLa Biennale di Venezia(2026), Amanda Heng Liang Ngim presents “...
21/05/2026

For the Singapore Pavilion at the 61st Venice Biennale( LLa Biennale di Venezia(2026), Amanda Heng Liang Ngim presents “A Pause” — an exhibition that extends her decades-long practice of working with the body and the everyday.

A pioneering interdisciplinary artist, Amanda invites visitors to consider how endurance and renewal are cultivated not through grand gestures, but through the quiet, persistent rhythms of daily life — through the body's instinctual capacity for rest, resilience, and self-determination.

The pavilion is transformed into a space for rest and observation, centred on ordinary actions: sitting, waiting, watching.

“A Pause” is curated by Selene Yap, commissioned by the NNational Arts Council Singapore supported by the MMinistry of Culture, Community and Youth - MCCYand organised by SSingapore Art Museum Heng’s works were presented at S.E.A. Focus 2026 edition brought by exhibiting gallery, ShanghART.

Pictured:

Installation view of A Pause (2025–26), Singapore Pavilion, Biennale Arte 2026. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum.
Amanda Heng Liang Ngim, A Pause (2025-26). Image courtesy of the artist.
Amanda Heng Liang Ngim, A Pause (2025-26). Image courtesy of the artist.
Installation view of A Pause, Singapore Pavilion, Biennale Arte 2026. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum.
Installation view of A Pause, Singapore Pavilion, Biennale Arte 2026. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum.
Installation view of A Pause, Singapore Pavilion, 61st Venice Biennale (2026). Video courtesy of Singapore Art Museum.
Installation view of A Pause (2025–26), Singapore Pavilion, BiennaleArte 2026. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum
Amanda Heng Liang Ngim, A Pause (2025-26). Image courtesy of the artist.
Singapore Pavilion artist Amanda Heng Liang Ngim and curator Selene Yap. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum.

12/03/2026

The eighth edition of S.E.A. Focus came to life at .sg at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre from 22 to 25 January 2026, and we're grateful to everyone who came and experienced our theme of 'The Humane Agency', curated by .fromthewoods

Over four days, we marvelled at the diverse artistic practices showcased by over 30 artists from 16 galleries across the Southeast Asia region, and reflected on some of the most pressing issues we face today with a sense of urgency and hope. Here's a look back at what took place at S.E.A. Focus 2026!

06/03/2026

S.E.A. Focus 2026 may be over, but the conversation continues—the full recordings of our SEAspotlight Talks are now available on our YouTube channel.

Our panels and fireside chats this year were curated by Clara Che Wei Peh (). They brought together artists, curators, and collectors, and other players in the wider arts community to reflect on how agency is shaped through practice—from what it means to sit with discomfort and imagining a better future, to listening with empathy, building cultural infrastructures, and engaging deeply with materiality. These exchanges offered thoughtful perspectives on care, responsibility, and collective action within contemporary art today.

Watch the videos via our link in bio!

The eighth edition of S.E.A. Focus—held for the first time at .sg—is officially a wrap, and what an incredible few days ...
25/01/2026

The eighth edition of S.E.A. Focus—held for the first time at .sg—is officially a wrap, and what an incredible few days it’s been.

We’ve loved meeting many of you as you engaged with the works with such curiosity and generosity—whether it was around the fair, during one of our guided tours, or as part of a panel discussion or fireside chat.

Our deepest thanks to the participating galleries, exhibiting artists, curator John Z.W. Tung (.fromthewoods), talks curator Clara Che Wei Peh (), as well as the speakers who helped make this our most memorable edition yet!

25/01/2026

Across S.E.A. Focus, over 100 artworks offer their own take on what ‘The Humane Agency’ could mean. Some are quiet and contemplative, others are bold and playful. Together, they reflect how Southeast Asian artists are responding to the world around them.

Hear from our visitors as they share some of their favourite pieces, reminding us that art is something to spend time with—to sit alongside, question, and return to.

Day 2 at S.E.A. Focus carried its own pace—return visits, closer looks at the artwork, and new conversations.This aftern...
24/01/2026

Day 2 at S.E.A. Focus carried its own pace—return visits, closer looks at the artwork, and new conversations.

This afternoon’s Fireside Chat, ‘Building New Nodes’, brought together Megan Arlin () and Lydia Yee () in a thoughtful exchange on institution-building across different contexts—reflecting on their respective initiatives thus far while looking toward their next chapters.

Throughout the day, SEAcommunity Tours continued to offer deeper entry points into the exhibition, with expert docents unpacking the curatorial theme and the works on view. A limited number of slots remain for tomorrow—register via our link in bio.

Tomorrow also marks the last day for you to visit S.E.A. Focus 2026. Get your tickets and come join us from 11am to 6pm.

Find out more at seafocus.sg

24/01/2026

Here’s what our visitors have to say after visiting S.E.A. Focus—from how the work resonated with them, to what it means to see Southeast Asian artists represented on a global platform.

Come experience it for yourself this weekend: explore the exhibition, register for a guided SEAcommunity Tour, or join the conversation at one of our SEAspotlight Talks.

Sat 24 Jan | 11 am–7 pm
Sun 25 Jan | 11 am–6 pm

📍 L1, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands

🎟️ Tickets available via the link in bio

Day 1 of S.E.A. Focus at .sg is a wrap.We opened the day with a reception featuring a special performance of ‘This One i...
23/01/2026

Day 1 of S.E.A. Focus at .sg is a wrap.

We opened the day with a reception featuring a special performance of ‘This One is Dangerous’ by Singaporean artist Tang Da Wu, presented by .

This was followed by a fireside chat in the afternoon with Corinne de San Jose and Bagus Pandega, who shared insights into their practices working with sound—from experimenting with frequencies to engaging plants as instruments.

Join us again tomorrow for our second Fireside Chat, Building Nodes—an intimate conversation exploring how art practitioners approach institution-building across different contexts, and how they envision the next phase of their work. Free to attend with an ART SG and S.E.A. Focus ticket; seats are limited.

🎟️ Tickets via link in bio | More at seafocus.sg

23/01/2026

How do artists participate in work of compassion in unsettling times of change?

Curated by John W. Z. Tung, this year’s edition of S.E.A. Focus, The Humane Agency, addresses this question through the artistic responses of more than 30 artists from 16 galleries and presenting over 100 artworks.

Go deeper with our SEAcommunity Tour that begins today or extend the conversation with SEAspotlight Fireside Chats!

We’re here until 25 January at L1, Sands Expo & Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands—see you at the fair!

🎟️ Plan your visit and book your tour at seafocus.sg

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