SEA AiR—Studio Residencies for Southeast Asian Artists

NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore (NTU CCA Singapore) is pleased to announce the three artists selected for the second cycle of SEA AiR—Studio Residencies for Southeast Asian Artists in the EU (SEA AiR) and the European arts institutions that will host their artistic residencies.

SEA AiR is a pioneering project that positions Singapore as a hub for artistic exchange between the vibrant Southeast Asian region and the European Union. With a distinct two-fold framework, SEA AiR interweaves artistic research and production by awarding three emerging Southeast Asian artists with: 1) a three-month residency at an established arts institution in the European Union; 2) curatorial guidance and resources to create new artworks for an exhibition in Singapore.

Addressing the creative needs and professional aspirations of emerging visual art practitioners from Southeast Asia who have never had a professional experience in Europe, SEA AiR provides artists with the opportunity to develop their practice, test their ideas in a different context, expand their networks, and gain international exposure. At the same time, it opens up for its European partner institutions and their publics a significant entry point into the rich and diverse landscape of Southeast Asian contemporary art.

Fuelled by a shared understanding that cultural mobility is an invaluable tool to advance artistic practices, multicultural societies, and critical thinking, SEA AiR is a connective platform for contemporary creativity that further deepens ties between Southeast Asia and Europe in the fields of arts and culture.

The three participants in the second iteration of SEA AiR are: Priyageetha Dia (Singapore); Ngoc Nau (Vietnam); and Saroot Supasuthivech (Thailand). They were selected from a pool of 21 candidates nominated by artists and curators from across the region.

The selection committee was composed of: Ute Meta Bauer, Founding Director, NTU CCA Singapore and Professor, School of Art, Design and Media, NTU; Hicham Khalidi, Director, Jan Van Eyck Academie; Monika Lipšic, Residency Curator, Rupert; Eszter Nemeth, Deputy Head of Mission, European Union Delegation to Singapore; Dr Karin Oen, Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, Art History, NTU School of Humanities; and Christoph Tannert, Artistic Director, Künstlerhaus Bethanien.

The following artists were shortlisted in acknowledgment of their artistic promise: Lin Htet Aung (Myanmar), Lena Bui (Vietnam), Ronyel Compra (Philippines), Pam Quinto (Philippines) and Nat Setthana (Thailand).

For the current cycle, SEA AiR expanded its collaborative network establishing new partnerships with arts institutions in Europe. The institutional partners that will welcome the artists in their residency programmes are: Jan van Eyck Academie (Maastricht, Netherlands); Künstlerhaus Bethanien (Berlin, Germany); Rupert (Vilnius, Lithuania). These institutions excel in providing artists with a nurturing environment for research and experimentation and their residency programmes are renown for fostering dialogue among practitioners from various backgrounds and disciplines. They support artists in establishing connections with the local context, involve them in a wide range of public programmes, and promote their visibility on an international level.

Taking place in the first half of 2023, the residencies will enable the artists to pursue their research interests and immerse themselves in a new cultural context. Priyageetha Dia will be Artist-in-Residence at Jan van Eyck Academie (17 April–14 July 2023), Ngoc Nau at Rupert (5 April–30 June 2023), and Saroot Supasuthivech at Künstlerhaus Bethanien (17 March–12 June 2023). Upon returning from the residencies, the artists will dedicate themselves to the production of new artworks inspired by their research and experiences in Europe with the curatorial guidance of NTU CCA Singapore. The artworks will premiere in an exhibition that will take place in Singapore later this year.

Developed and curated by NTU CCA Singapore, the project is funded by the European Union’s Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI).

Statements from the selected artists
Priyageetha Dia: “To be given this opportunity to further my research and artistic practice at Jan van Eyck Academie is an incredible one. Being part of the SEA AiR residency in the European Union will allow me to explore the potential for a deeper and broader comprehension beyond the Southeast Asian landscape and into the corners and crossings that ties its relation to the Netherlands. To be able to witness, engage in, and respond to an interdisciplinary environment with the possibility to gather with other peers and cultural workers, access resources and facilities, and share knowledge(s) is what I am really looking forward to.”

Ngoc Nau: “I feel very grateful and proud to have been selected for the second edition of the SEA AiR programme and I am very excited about my upcoming residency in Vilnius. It will allow me to connect further with European culture and artists and to find new inspirations and materials to feed my research and thinking. I am very curious to see which bridges I will be able to establish between Northern Europe and Southeast Asia to foster my creative process. I look forward to engage in this opportunity and produce an innovative artwork for the exhibition in Singapore later this year.”

Saroot Supasuthivech: “I am honoured to have been chosen for the SEA AiR programme and I am grateful to be part of the residency programme at Künstlerhaus Bethanien in Berlin. I am excited to explore different cultures and perspectives by researching and interviewing local people. During my stay in Berlin, I hope to learn more about the lives of Thai immigrants, their stories and beliefs, as well as to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural diversity, local histories, and storytelling practices in Germany. I hope to contribute something meaningful through my artwork.”