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National Gallery Singapore Presents Southeast Asia's Largest Pop Art Exhibition - Pop after Pop: Art around Us

Written by Huney_Hun | | Andy Warhol, Barbara Kruger, contemporary art, Entertainment, National Gallery Singapore, Pop after Pop, Roy Lichtenstein, Singapore art exhibition, Things to do in Singapore December 2026

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Hi Huneybees,

Every once in a while, an exhibition announcement lands in my inbox that makes me pause everything I'm doing. Pop after Pop: Art around Us was one of those moments. Seeing names like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Barbara Kruger alongside some of Southeast Asia's most influential artists?

Safe to say I'm already counting down to December as National Gallery Singapore is turning up the colour with Pop after Pop: Art around Us, the largest Pop Art group exhibition ever presented in Southeast Asia.

Opening from 11 December 2026 to 4 April 2027, the landmark exhibition brings together more than 200 artworks by over 100 artists, offering an exciting journey through one of the world's most influential art movements.

What makes this exhibition even more significant is that it marks the first-ever collaboration between National Gallery Singapore and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York, with iconic works travelling from the Guggenheim alongside important pieces from Southeast Asia.

Roy Lichtenstein. Preparedness. 1968. Oil and Magna on canvas, three panels, 304.8 × 548.6 cm. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. 69.1885. © Estate of Roy Lichtenstein
(© Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York. All Rights Reserved.)

A Celebration of Pop Culture Through Art

Pop Art has always fascinated me because it transforms the ordinary into something extraordinary. Everyday advertisements, comic books, celebrities, household objects and popular culture suddenly become thought-provoking works of art and that's exactly what Pop after Pop: Art around Us sets out to explore.

Rather than simply revisiting the classic Pop Art movement that emerged in Britain and flourished in the United States during the 1960s, this exhibition asks a much bigger question:

How did artists across Southeast Asia reinterpret Pop Art through their own cultures, politics and everyday experiences?

Visitors can expect everything from paintings and sculptures to prints, installations and moving-image works spread across multiple exhibition spaces throughout the Gallery.

Andy Warhol. Mao. 1972. Screenprint on Beckett High white paper, 91.6 × 91.6 cm.
Edition 97/99. Collection of SC Global Developments.
© 2026 The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.
(Image Credit: SC Global Developments)

Expect Icons from Around the World

One of the biggest draws has to be the opportunity to see works by some of Pop Art's biggest names in person.

Highlights include iconic pieces by:

Andy Warhol – Mao (1972)
Roy Lichtenstein – Preparedness (1968)
Barbara Kruger – Untitled (Money money money) (2011)

Left: Ming Wong. Life of Imitation. 2009. Acrylic emulsion on canvas, 217 × 165 × 3 cm.
(Collection of Singapore Art Museum.)
Right: Manit Sriwanichpoom. Shocking Pink Collection: Globalizing Pink Man.1998.
Duratrans prints in light box, Editions 2/5 + 1 AP, 150 × 100 cm.
(Collection of National Gallery Singapore.)

Alongside these internationally celebrated artists are some of Southeast Asia's most influential contemporary voices, including:

Ming Wong (Singapore) – Life of Imitation (2009)
FX Harsono (Indonesia) – Out Now (1975 / reconstructed 2006)
Antipas Delotavo (Philippines) – Dagger at the Heart of Mang Juan (1978)
Manit Sriwanichpoom (Thailand) – Globalizing Pink Man (1998)

Bringing these artists together creates an interesting dialogue between Western Pop Art and the unique ways Southeast Asian artists adapted its visual language to reflect their own societies.

Barbara Kruger. Untitled (Money money money). 2011. Digital print on vinyl, 214 × 339.7 cm.
Gift of Theodor and Isabella Dalenson. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. 2011.34.
Courtesy of the artist and Sprüth Magers.
(© Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York. All Rights Reserved.)

Pop Art with a Southeast Asian Perspective

One of the aspects I'm most looking forward to is how the exhibition shifts the conversation beyond the familiar American Pop Art narrative.

While many people immediately associate Pop Art with Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup cans or Marilyn Monroe portraits, artists throughout Southeast Asia were simultaneously drawing inspiration from newspapers, advertising, television, street culture and everyday urban life to comment on issues much closer to home.

Through these works, familiar imagery becomes a way to explore politics, social change, identity and cultural traditions. It's a refreshing reminder that Pop Art isn't just about bright colours and bold graphics, it's also about reflecting the world we live in.

FX Harsono. Telah Terbit (Out Now). 1975, reconstructed 2006. Acrylic on canvas, 170 × 150 × 5 cm.

(Collection of National Gallery Singapore.)

As someone who enjoys exhibitions that are visually engaging yet still leave you thinking long after you've walked away, Pop after Pop: Art around Us already feels like one of the biggest art events to look forward to this year.

Whether you're an art enthusiast, a pop culture fan, or simply looking for an inspiring day out, this promises to be one of National Gallery Singapore's most ambitious exhibitions yet—and definitely one I'll be adding to my must-visit list this December.

Antipas Delotavo. Itak sa Puso ni Mang Juan (Dagger at the Heart of Mang Juan). 1978.
Watercolour on paper, 38.1 × 53.34 cm. Collection of Alexander A. Tee. © Handumanon ni Biboy (Antipas Delotavo).

(Courtesy of Tin-aw Art Management Inc. Photography by Erik Liongoren.)

Pop after Pop: Art around Us

📍 National Gallery Singapore

Across:

Singtel Special Exhibition Galleries 1 & 2
Special Exhibition Gallery 3 (Level 3)
Ngee Ann Kongsi Gallery (Level B1)
Various public spaces throughout the Gallery

📅 11 December 2026 – 4 April 2027
🎫 From S$15 for Singapore Citizens & PRs | S$25 for foreign visitors.
Alternatively, visitors can enjoy unlimited access through the Gallery Insider Membership, priced at:

Singapore Citizens & Permanent Residents: S$20
Foreign residents & tourists: S$35

🌐 For more information, visit the National Gallery Singapore website.

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Not Mere Spectators: Why This Exhibition Will Change How You See Multiracial Singapore

Written by Huney_Hun | | Entertainment, Founders’ Memorial, Multicultural Singapore, National Gallery Singapore, Not Mere Spectators Exhibition, Singapore, Singapore history exhibitions, Things to do in Singapore

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Hi Huneybees,

Some exhibitions entertain you for an hour. Others stay with you for days.

Not Mere Spectators: The Makings of Multicultural Singapore quietly does the latter by inviting visitors to step into the defining decades between the 1950s and 1970s, when the idea of multiculturalism was not yet a given, but something Singapore had to intentionally build.

Presented by the Founders’ Memorial in conjunction with SG60, this immersive exhibition explores a time when unity was carefully shaped through policies, ground-up efforts, and the everyday choices of ordinary citizens.

*And before you even finish this article! Here’s a little insider tip: visit in a group of five and you may walk away with a $60 GrabFood voucher. More on that shortly, because trust me… you’ll want to plan your visit strategically.

When Multiculturalism Was Still a Vision

Today, celebrating different cultures feels almost instinctive in Singapore. Festivals fill our calendars, multiple languages flow through daily life, and diverse cuisines sit comfortably side by side.

But it wasn’t always this seamless.

This exhibition brings visitors back to the early nation-building years , back to a period marked by uncertainty, negotiation, and hope; showing how multiculturalism became one of the nation’s strongest foundations. Imagine back then, everyone had their own language, study books had to be published in so many different language and habing to solve algebra in Tamil?

Through interactive installations, artefacts, archival photographs, artwork and audio experiences, you’re encouraged not just to observe history, but to question it:

What does multiculturalism mean today?
And how do we continue carrying it forward?

Among the highlights are original letters exchanged between Ministers Ong Pang Boon and S. Rajaratnam discussing the National Pledge in 1966, alongside a three-part audio play inspired by Rajaratnam’s A Nation in the Making.

You don’t simply walk past these displays, you pause, reflect, and realise how deliberate the making of modern Singapore truly was.

Highlights from the Exhibition

One story that lingered with me was that of Ms Toshiko Kadir. She discovered at age 27 that she had been adopted from a Chinese family when she was just one year old. Yet growing up in the 1960s, identity in her household was never singular, it was beautifully layered.

Her father was half-Japanese and half-Indian-Muslim. Her mother came from southern Thailand. She studied Chinese in a convent school while Malay was spoken at home. Her family welcomed the Japanese New Year with oden and mochi, observed Buddhist rituals on Vesak Day, and filled their home with both Okinawan music and Bossa Nova.

And through it all, racial differences were never the defining narrative of her childhood. Stories like hers gently remind us that multiculturalism is not merely written into policy, it is lived at dining tables, spoken in shared languages, and expressed through everyday traditions.

Right in the centre of the exhibition sits a painting that feels both contemporary and timeless.

Lovers on a Train (2021) by Yeo Tze Yang portrays a masked couple seated on an MRT carriage, an image instantly familiar to anyone living in Singapore during the Covid period. He chose the MRT deliberately, seeing it as a powerful metaphor for everyday multiculturalism. It is a space where people of different backgrounds coexist quietly, sharing the same journey without needing grand gestures.

Displayed alongside artefacts from the Merdeka years, the painting acts almost like a bridge, helping younger visitors locate themselves within a much larger national narrative.

It is proof that multiculturalism is not just history. It is still unfolding around us.

A Cultural Scene I Wish We Could Time-Travel Back To

Here’s something I learned that genuinely surprised me though...

Beginning in 1959, Singapore organised free People’s Cultural Concerts, also known as Aneka Ragam Ra’ayat. These performances showcased everything from Chinese ribbon dances and Malay Tari Payung to Indian Kathakali and Eurasian Jinkli Nona.

They were staged in public spaces including the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the former City Hall which is now part of the National Gallery Singapore.

Just imagine the atmosphere: communities gathering, cultures unfolding on one shared stage, curiosity replacing division. Honestly, I would love to see something like this revived. It feels like the kind of event that would resonate deeply even today, biringing our nation even much closer, as we share our cultures.

Come With Friends — There’s a Reward Waiting

Now, about that insider tip.

To encourage shared experiences and spark meaningful conversations, the Founders’ Memorial is currently running a group promotion that is well worth planning for.

Visit the exhibition in a group of five and receive a $60 GrabFood voucher.

History followed by a great meal together? That sounds like a near-perfect Singapore day.

A quick note for the savvy planners:

Limited to the first 100 groups
One person can register on behalf of the group
Registration does not guarantee the voucher, so earlier visits are strongly recommended

It’s the kind of outing that balances reflection with connection, come explore the exhibition, exchange perspectives, then continue the conversation over food... Sometimes the best discussions happen after the museum.

Why This Exhibition Matters More Than We Think

The title draws inspiration from a 1959 speech by Lee Kuan Yew, reminding Singaporeans that we are “not mere spectators” but active participants in nation-building. Walking through the exhibition, that message feels strikingly relevant.

The harmony we experience today is not accidental. It is the result of everyday decisions to respect one another, to stand together, and to keep strengthening the social fabric that holds us together.

Personally, it made me realise how special it is that many of us introduce ourselves simply as Singaporeans. Our cultures remain vibrant and distinct, yet there is a shared identity that connects us all. In many ways, it feels like having the world gathered in one small, remarkable backyard.

Planning Your Visit

The exhibition runs until 29 March 2026 and serves as the second pilot showcasing how the Founders’ Memorial intends to bring Singapore’s stories to life ahead of its eventual opening in 2028.

Beyond the exhibition itself, you can look forward to guided tours, multicultural performances, giveaways by Project Citizens, and themed activity days - including a friendship-themed crochet flower bouquet giveaway.

Programme details are available at go.gov.sg/notmerespectators.

Some places teach you history.

Others help you feel it.

Not Mere Spectators is a powerful reminder that the Singapore we know today was built through courage, conviction, and collective choice.

And perhaps the most important takeaway? We are still shaping that story. Still choosing understanding over division. Still building something bigger than ourselves.

Never mere spectators.

Not Mere Spectators: The Makings of Multicultural Singapore

📍 City Hall Chamber, Level 3, National Gallery of Singapore

📅 Till 29 March 2026

⏰ 10am - 7pm (last entry 6pm)

*Admission is free for all visitors. No ticket is required.

🌐For more information, please visit go.gov.sg/notmerespectators

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Light to Night Singapore 2026 Returns with “The Power in Us” Across the Civic District

Written by Huney_Hun | | arts and culture Singapore, Entertainment, free Singapore events, Interactive Art, Light to Night Singapore 2026, National Gallery Singapore, SANTAI series, things to do in Singapore January

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Hi Huneybees,

Start the new year on a luminous note as Light to Night Singapore returns for its landmark 10th edition in 2026, transforming the Civic District into a glowing, living canvas of creativity, connection, and collective expression. Running from 9 to 31 January 2026, this milestone edition is the festival’s longest yet, unfolding across four vibrant weekends for the very first time.

Anchored by the theme The Power in Us, Light to Night Singapore 2026 celebrates what happens when people come together - the strength of communities, the richness of diverse voices, and the invisible bonds formed through shared experiences with art. From large-scale projection mappings to intimate participatory works, this year’s festival invites everyone to not just observe art, but to be part of it.

Light to Night Singapore 2026 is organised by National Gallery Singapore, in collaboration with Asian Civilisations Museum, Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, The Arts House, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, and CapitaLand, bringing together some of Singapore’s most iconic cultural institutions for a city-wide celebration of light and art.

Installation Highlights

Of course, Light to Night wouldn’t be complete without its much-loved projection mappings illuminating the Civic District’s iconic buildings. This year’s Art Skins on Monuments sees the façade of National Gallery Singapore transformed by two multidisciplinary artists exploring entanglements between nature, technology, labour, and belief.

Singaporean artist Fyerool Darma presents Ⱥn§ibℓøm∞ (Ansiblomoo), a hypnotic digital meditation on natural signals, emergent patterns, and technological rhythms. In Memory Gesture, Vietnamese artist Ngoc Nau reflects on contemporary labour and belief systems, drawing inspiration from her hometown’s transformation from agricultural roots to tech production.

One of this year’s most refreshing additions is SANTAI, a brand-new series inspired by the Malay word for “to relax”. Thoughtfully woven into the historic Civic District, these artworks are situated across key gathering spaces such as the Padang, Empress Lawn, the Front Lawn at The Arts House, ACM Green, and Esplanade Park. Rather than rushing from one artwork to the next, visitors are invited to slow down, linger, and experience art as a shared moment of rest and connection within the city.

Photo credit: Michael Lin – Gathering on the Lawn

On weekends, the Padang comes alive through Gathering on the Lawn by Taiwanese artist Michael Lin, where the line between artwork and audience gently dissolves. Festivalgoers carry artist-designed paper lantern bags adorned with batik-inspired motifs, creating a moving constellation of light as they wander, interact, and come together. With every step and encounter, the open field transforms into a warm, glowing space shaped by collective presence and participation.

Also unfolding across the Padang is Rumah Laut by Singaporean artist Firdaus Sani, a fourth-generation Orang Laut and Pulau descendant. This three-part installation traces a path between the Art Connector, Padang, and ACM Green, drawing from the journeys of Singapore’s earliest seafaring communities. At its heart is a reimagined rumah laut, or coastal home, constructed from materials such as nibong palm leaves and mangrove wood. Through this evocative structure, the work reflects on heritage, displacement, and resilience, honouring the stories of the Orang Laut, Orang Kallang, Orang Seletar, Orang Selat, and Orang Pulau communities.

Photo credit: Michael Lin – Untitled Gathering

Michael Lin’s exploration of participation continues indoors at the Gallery’s Singapore Courtyard with Untitled Gathering. Known for his large-scale installations and iconic floral motifs, Lin collaborates with students from the University of the Arts Singapore to create hand-painted wooden furniture pieces. Arranged as a patchwork reflecting the textures and rhythms of the city, the work invites visitors to sit, move, and rearrange the pieces, constantly reshaping both the artwork and the social interactions within it.

Photo credit: Navin Rawanchaikul

Another monumental highlight is SINGAPORAMA by Thai artist Navin Rawanchaikul, presented at the Padang Atrium. Developed through a year of research and deep engagement with Singapore’s diverse communities - from migrant workers and artists to indigenous groups, Peranakans, social advocacy groups, and faith organisations; this work features two large billboard-style paintings inspired by vintage cinema posters. Accompanied by video interviews and a travelogue drawn from the artist’s journeys across Singapore, SINGAPORAMA becomes both a tribute and a time capsule of the city’s layered identities.