Exhibition till 16 November 2025 at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Concourse Gallery.

The National Gallery Singapore has inaugurated a new exhibition series titled “Dalam Collection,” with its inaugural exhibition exploring the evolving dynamics of ink throughout history.

The inaugural exhibition warmly invites you to explore over 50 new acquisitions and previously unseen works from the National Collection, featuring the remarkable talents of artists like Chen Wen Hsi, Guan Shanyue, Hong Zhu An, Latiff Mohidin, Liu Kang, Nena Saguill, and many more.

This June, the National Gallery invites you to explore a new dimension of ink through the heartfelt debut of the National Gallery Singapore’s exhibition series, Dalam Collection. From 6 June to 16 November 2025, the exhibition titled Where Ink Tides Meet brings together over 50 remarkable works from the National Collection, many of which will be gracing public view for the very first time. You will discover mesmerizing ink masterpieces by influential artists from across the region, including Chen Wen Hsi, Guan Shanyue, Hong Zhu An, Latiff Mohidin, Liu Kang, and Nena Saguill, and hope these works inspire and resonate with you.

1. Latiff Mohidin. Guilin (11). 1990. Ink and watercolour on paper, 23 × 18.5 cm.  Gift of the YLY Collection. Collection of Singapore Art Museum.  2. Chen Jen Hao. 大梦谁先觉 (Who Wakes Up First from the Dream). 1943.  Ink and colour on paper, 28.5 × 53 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore. 3. Hong Zhu An. 闲思 (Idle Thoughts). 2022. Ink and colour on rice paper, 144 × 145.5 cm. Gift of the artist. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.  4. Guan Shanyue. [Not titled] (An Indian Lady and Tropical Trees). 1947.  Ink and colour on paper, 140 × 35 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore. 5. Khoo Seok Wan. [Not titled] (Orchids on a Scholar Rock). c. 1896–1940. Ink on paper. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.    6. Richard Walker. Cockatoo. 1957. Ink and watercolour on paper. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.  7. Fernando Zóbel. Grabado I. 1958. Oil on canvas. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.  8. Richard Walker. Rabbit. 1957. Ink and watercolour on paper. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.  9. Fan Chang Tien, Szeto Kei, Pan Shou. 竹阴香 (Aromatic Scent in the Cold and New Mark in Ink). 1985. Ink and colour on paper, 163.7 × 68 cm. Gift of Lee Soo Chee. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.  10. Nguyễn Minh Thành. Waiting. 2001. Ink and colour on dó paper. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.  11. Wu Guanzhong. 奔流 (Running Stream). 1988. Ink and colour on paper. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.  12. Liu Xiande. [Not titled] (Rambutans and Sparrows). 1959. Ink and colour on paper. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.

Taking its name from the Malay word dalam, which beautifully signifies “inside” or “deep within,” the Dalam Collection extends the thoughtful curatorial journey of its predecessor, Dalam Southeast Asia. This heartfelt series warmly invites visitors to explore the intricate ways collections are formed, interpreted, and experienced. Each installment, unveiled with the emergence of a new facet of the Gallery’s Collection, thoughtfully showcases recent acquisitions and curatorial research, revealing the often-overlooked connections that span across time and place. It seeks to recast familiar narratives and uncover new stories, fostering meaningful dialogues between the art of Singapore, Southeast Asia, and the wider world.

Where Ink Tides Meet warmly ushers in the series, emphasizing the significance of ink while drawing from the Gallery’s ongoing exploration of this remarkable medium. It lovingly highlights Singapore as a pivotal location where ink traditions have woven together, flourished, and harmonized through the creativity of artists who have reimagined this medium across various generations, regions, and cultural contexts. The exhibition gently invites visitors to broaden their understanding of ink, encouraging them to discover how this timeless medium has been lovingly reinterpreted through contemporary perspectives, enriching cross-cultural exchanges, and innovative techniques.

“Dalam Collection reflects a fundamental shift in how we share our collection with the public. By revealing greater insights into our acquisition and curatorial processes, we invite visitors to witness how the Gallery builds meaningful connections between Singapore, Southeast Asia, and global art histories,” says Dr. Patrick Flores, Chief Curator, National Gallery Singapore. “It is only intuitive that we begin the series with an exploration of ink practices, drawing from our extensive research on the dynamism of this medium across Southeast Asia. We hope visitors to Where Ink Tides Meet will come away with a deeper appreciation of the artistic innovation inherent in ink practices and the thoughtful processes through which our National Collection is shaped and presented.”

A heartfelt exploration of the fluidity of ink practice, “Where Ink Tides Meet” is thoughtfully organized into three curatorial sections – Revival, Encounter, and Nexus. It beautifully charts the journey of generations of artists who have courageously challenged, transformed, and reimagined ink, inviting us to see beyond traditional forms and embrace a more expansive vision of creativity.

Revival warmly invites audiences to delve into the heartfelt journey of returning to cultural origins through the cherished medium of ink painting. This section illuminates both metaphorical and literal aspects of these talented artists and their remarkable works, honoring their dedication and invaluable contributions to ink. It also marks a significant milestone, as many of these artworks are being shared with the public for the very first time. For example, artists like Khoo Seok Wan embraced literati ideals, nurturing ink as a meaningful cultural practice, while Liu Kang and Chen Chong Swee infused their paintings with reformist inspirations gleaned during their studies at Shanghai’s Xinhua Academy of Art. Visitors are encouraged to explore how each piece in Revival embodies the artists’ deep aspirations to rejuvenate the ink medium through their unique practices.

The Encounter section gently invites visitors to reflect on the beautiful artistic exchanges that blossomed when diverse people, ideas, and traditions came into contact, fostering meaningful networks among artists and collectors in the region. Singapore’s dynamic role as a vibrant meeting point is not only illustrated in the artworks themselves but also in the rich stories they embody—from heartfelt artist collaborations and regional exhibitions to the kindness of collectors who generously helped circulate these invaluable works across borders. Visitors will discover poignant artworks such as Guan Shanyue’s [Not titled] (An Indian Lady and Tropical Trees) (1947), dedicated to the Society of Chinese Artists, which resonate with moments of curiosity, connection, and reinterpretation. These pieces provide a profound glimpse into how these artists navigated new environments and influences, beautifully showcasing how the exchange of ideas has continually reinvigorated the ink medium.

 Guan Shanyue’s [Not titled] (An Indian Lady and Tropical Trees) (1947)

Nexus section gently brings the exhibition to a close by inviting you to witness ink’s remarkable journey of continuous adaptation and reinvention. In this thoughtfully curated section, you will encounter bold and unexpected approaches that push the boundaries of this beloved medium through the use of unconventional materials, abstract forms, and experimental techniques. From intricate layers of paper pulp and delicate pigment washes to minimalist gestures and evocative imagery, these works challenge our conventional understanding of ink’s aesthetics and the myriad ideas, emotions, and narratives it can express. Just as those before us adapted ink to fit new contexts, today’s artists carry forward that spirit, drawing inspiration from diverse influences to create hybrid forms that are both deeply rooted and refreshingly innovative. Through this exploration, Nexus encourages you to rethink familiar notions of ink and to appreciate how this medium remains vibrantly open, evolving, and intricately woven into the cultural dynamism of Singapore and Southeast Asia.