Tropical Lab 15: Interdependencies

Exhibition period: Sat 21 Aug – Sat 16 Oct
Opening hours: 12:00pm – 7:00pm, Mon–Sat (closed on Sun and public holidays)

Location
Praxis Space, Project Space, Brother Joseph McNally Gallery and other locations at LASALLE College of the Arts' McNally Campus

Since 2005, art students from universities in Bandung, Belgrade, New York, Plymouth, Tokyo, among others, meet each other, work and live together in Singapore as part of Tropical Lab. An experiment in art education and artistic exchanges, this two-week intensive art camp was initiated by Milenko Prvački, former Dean of LASALLE’s Faculty of Fine Arts and current Senior Fellow in the President’s Office.

Impacted by the pandemic, the 15th edition of Tropical Lab takes place under an exhibition format. The title of this edition – Interdependencies – is less thematic and more reflective. It captures the spirit of togetherness, companionship, and resilience that defined all the previous editions of Tropical Lab. While the pandemic touched our existence in many different ways, and made off-screen encounters difficult, it made us all acknowledge our interdependencies as fundamental to art and life.

Twenty-five artists who participated in different editions of the Tropical Lab between 2005 and 2019 were nominated by faculty from partner universities. The artists have generously shared their recent work and initiated new projects, and their enthusiastic response to the invitation reflects the quality of the experience they once had in Singapore.

A screengrab of an inflight map, printed on tarp levitates above the ground in a shelter-like structure. Two paintings of blown-up ID photos convey the process of othering immigrants often experience. A seductive animation moving seamlessly from a North American forest to a tropical rainforest alludes to the global ramifications of multinational companies and their manifold exploitation of resources. An augmented reality app defies physical boundaries and teleports us miles away into an artist's studio. It would be futile to seek a common denominator across all the artworks. The strength of an exhibition such as Tropical Lab derives from various artistic positions, media and contexts of reference.

Safety advisory

Kindly refrain from attending the event if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 including a fever, runny nose and sore throat.

All visitors entering the College will be required to wear masks at all times and to undergo mandatory temperature screening and check-in using the SafeEntry system.

Each gallery has a maximum capacity at any one time including the staff on duty. Keep at least 1 metre distance from others at all times. Read more about our enhanced Safe Management Measures on the Lasalle College of the Arts website. We seek your understanding and look forward to welcoming you to the College.