The National Gallery Singapore is pushing the boundaries of artistic expression in Asia with its first-ever R18 exhibition. This comes as a bold move in a conservative society where subjects like desire are avoided in public discourse. The provocative exhibition aims to challenge the way we view these subjects—reframing them as lived experiences rather than a taboo.
The exhibit titled Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art, explores how desire and sexuality have been represented in art in Southeast Asian societies. It brings together over 70 works from across periods, regions, and cultures, featuring a diverse media of paintings, sculptures, and photography. Intentionally curated to showcase abstract expressions rather than literal interpretations, it encourages visitors to look beyond the obvious and think deeper.
What to expect
The exhibition is organised in 3 sections—Asian Mythos and Ritual, Conventions of the Erotic, and Public Arenas/Private Interiors. Asian Mythos and Rituals explores spiritual and cosmological narratives behind eroticism, showcasing the human body as a bridge between nature, emotion, sacredness, and spirituality.
Meanwhile, Conventions of the Erotic showcases how artists have challenged traditional views of the body in the post-colonial era. Enjoy a diversity of perspectives, as some artists present nudity as a form of liberation, while others use it to explore new means of expression and symbolisation.
The last section, Public Arenas/Private Interiors, is a curation of artist voices who used their works to bring marginalised experiences into public discourse. All while pushing against the rapid cultural shifts of the 20th Century.
Artist spotlight
Spotlighting some works, Alfonso Ossosrio evokes a visceral bodily experience through his dynamic and dense artwork, Clouds of Conscience. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zakii Anwar leans into realist symbolism with Sixtynine, as his humorous artwork depicts two fruits drawn in precarious positions.
Works by local artists will also be featured, such as Lavendar Chung’s Dissolving into the Same Breath. Using long-exposure photography, she captures bodies in motion as soft, fleeting moments of intimacy.
Ticketing and admission
Tickets are priced at S$5 for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, and S$8 for other nationalities. The age requirement is 18 and above, and valid identification is required for entry.
As Southeast Asia’s leading visual arts institution steps into bold new territory, visit this boundary-pushing exhibition to experience desire, intimacy, and expression through a new lens.
Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art
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📍 1 St Andrew’s Road, City Wing Hall, Level 4 Gallery, Singapore 178957
🕛 10am–7pm (Daily)
📅 24 April 2026 to 30 August 2026
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