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 the Tropical Lab. An experiment in art education and artistic exchanges, this two-week intensive art camp was initiated by Milenko Prvacki, 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 as an exhibition. The title of this edition - Interdependencies - is less thematic and more reflective. It captures the spirit of togetherness, companionship, peer learning, and resilience that defined all the previous editions of Tropical Lab, and it speaks to the current moment. While the pandemic touched our existence in many different ways and hindered off-screen encounters, 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 from distance. Their enthusiastic response to the invitation reflects the quality of the experience they once had in Singapore.

The exhibition stretches beyond gallery spaces, highlighting the special relationship Tropical Lab participants had with LASALLE’s campus, which was integral to their exchange, learning and artistic production. Making use of existing infrastructure and within the spirit of interdependence, artworks co-exist with different activities taking place on LASALLE’s McNally campus.

This exhibition is part of a broader 2021 programme that comprises the launch of the Tropical Lab Archive and the publication of ISSUE 1O dedicated to the Tropical Lab history.

Artists: Ali Van, Anne-Laure Franchette, Ben Dunn, B. Neimeth, Brooke Stamp, Christine Rebet, Danielle Dean, Di Liu, Duy Hoang, Hariyo Seno Agus Subagyo, Homa Shojaie, James Jack, James Tapsell-Kururang, James Yakimicki, j.p. mot, Kay Mei Ling Beadman, Laura Hopes, Marko Stankovic, Pheng Guan Lee, Rattana Salee, Sarah Walker, Shuo Yin, Tim Bailey, Tromarama, Waret Khunacharoensap

Curated by Anca Rujoiu