Singapore and Hong Kong Pavilions Embrace Slowness at Venice Biennale

At the 61st Venice Biennale, curated under the posthumous theme 'In Minor Keys' by Koyo Kouoh, the Singapore and Hong Kong pavilions stand out for their quiet, intimate presentations. The Singapore Pavilion, titled 'A Pause,' features artist Amanda Heng Liang Ngim and is curated by Selene Yap. It transforms the Sale d'Armi into a breathing environment with larch wood architectural reconfigurations, inviting visitors to sit, lean, or lie down. Works include the dual-channel video 'A Pause' (2025–26) filmed in Singapore and Venice, and the re-presentation of 'Parts of My Body' (1990, reprinted 2026). The Hong Kong Pavilion, 'Fermata: Hong Kong in Venice,' presents artists Kingsley Ng and Angel Hui in the city's first dual-artist presentation since 2007. Curated by the Hong Kong Museum of Art and the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, it transforms everyday objects into atmospheric choreography of light, sound, and shadow. Both pavilions reject spectacle in favor of rhythm, atmosphere, and intimacy, embodying the Biennale's theme.