Shadows, Signals, and the Line: Abstract Expressionism in Singapore

Exhibition Information

Guest of Honour	Dr Kenneth Goh; Nominated Member of Parliament, Parliament of Singapore
Period	29 May–23 August2026
Location	11 Upper Wilkie Rd, The Private Museum,

The Private Museum is pleased to present Shadows, Signals, and the Line: Abstract Expressionism in Singapore. The exhibition explores the development of abstraction in Singapore, bringing together works by sixteen Singaporean artists working in that visual language, and chronicling their responses to the cultural and material conditions of a rapidly modernising nation.

The exhibition title recognises abstraction not as a fixed style, but a negotiation between influence and invention, clarity and ambiguity. As a sensibility grounded in subtlety, tactility, and the quiet resonance of form, the line becomes both gesture and structure, and shadow sharpens perception.

Emerging in the 1970s and 80s, abstraction in Singapore developed in dialogue with both regional legacies and international movements. Building on the foundations of the Nanyang school, artists moved beyond representation to explore form, gesture, and material as primary carriers of meaning, engaging global influences while reconfiguring them within local contexts.

Through works informed by calligraphic gesture, geometric discipline, and material sensitivity, the exhibition highlights the diverse approaches that have shaped abstraction in Singapore. It invites viewers to consider how abstraction is inseparable from cultural thinking and lived experience—where form carries memory, and meaning unfolds through the act of looking.

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The exhibition will run from 29 May to 23 August 2026.

Programme Documentation

Programme Media

About the Collaboration

About the Curator

John Z. W. Tung (b. 1990, Singapore) is an independent curator and exhibition-maker who previously worked as an Assistant Curator at the Singapore Art Museum from 2015 to 2020. During his tenure, he curated and co-curated nine exhibitions and served as a co-curator for the Singapore Biennale in 2016 ‘An Atlas of Mirrors’ and 2019 ‘Every Step in the Right Direction’. Several artwork commissions he curated for the biennales were finalists for the prestigious Benesse Prize, and one even won the award. He also edited the Singapore Art Museum’s first publication documenting its exhibition history, titled ‘Singapore Art Museum: An Index of Exhibitions (1994 – 2018).’

Since becoming an independent curator, he has taken on various notable roles, including Festival Curator for the 7th and 8th Singapore International Photography Festival in 2020 and 2022, Associate Curator for the Open House program titled ‘For the House; Against the House’ in 2021, 2022, and 2023, and Curator of the groundbreaking exhibition ‘5th Passage: In Search of Lost Time,’ which explores the significance of the Singaporean artist initiative called 5th Passage.

Some of his notable projects include ‘The Forest Institute’ (2022), a large-scale architectural art installation focused on secondary forest ecologies, and ‘The Gathering: 千岁宫’ (2022), a temporary Chinese garden-teahouse experience in Singapore’s Chinatown. In 2023, he was honoured with the inaugural Tan Boon Hui Curatorial Prize.

Programme Outreach

As part of our ongoing partnership with Friends of the Museums Singapore to offer weekly guided tours, The Private Museum is excited to unveil new tour dates for Shadows, Signals, and the Line: Abstract Expressionism in Singapore from June to August 2026!

Each docent-led tour will take you on an in-depth journey through the exhibition, and includes an introduction to The Private Museum as well as greater insight into the history of the Osborne House.

Discover the beauty of botanical art with your child at the Colour Me Beautiful: Leaf Art Workshop with Himapan by Cher. In this hands-on parent-child workshop, participants will paint on authentic leaf skeletons and create their own textured botanical artwork inspired by the vibrant colours and expressive textures of the abstract paintings featured in the museum’s ongoing exhibition, Shadows, Signals, and the Line: Abstract Expressionism in Singapore.

Each parent-child pair will work together on a singular 20 x 30cm canvas, beginning by carefully arranging and composing the leaf skeletons into their own botanical design before securing them in place. They will then select their colour palette and bring their artwork to life through painting, watching their ideas transform into a richly layered and textured masterpiece.

Individuals who wish to work on their own 20 x 30cm canvas are also welcome to take part at the same price.

Participants will begin the afternoon with a complimentary guided tour of the exhibition from 1:30pm to 2pm, before continuing into the workshop session. This workshop is held in conjunction with the exhibition Shadows, Signals, and the Line: Abstract Expressionism in Singapore, running at the museum from 29 May to 23 August 2026.

Join jewellery designer June Koh for a hands-on workshop inspired by the bold, intricate patterns of Peranakan jewellery.

In this beginner-friendly session, you’ll learn the fundamentals of jewellery-making before getting to work with colourful beads to design and assemble your very own pair of earrings—a wearable keepsake rooted in Singapore’s rich heritage.

No prior crafting experience needed. Open to participants aged 16 and above.

After the workshop, stay on for a complimentary guided tour of the museum’s current exhibition, ‘Shadows, Signals, and the Line: Abstract Expressionism in Singapore’.

Programme Publication

The Private Museum is pleased to present the e-publication for Shadows, Signals, and the Line: Abstract Expressionism in Singapore.

Read more about the conceptualisation of the exhibition from curator John Z. W. Tung, and hear more from Associate Director Aaron Teo about the significance of the exhibition in today’s contemporary context.

Also included are installation and artwork images from the exhibition.