If you’re after art that’s staged away from traditional spaces, head down to Poh Leng building this weekend, where the second show of “Robin” is taking place.

What is Robin, you say? According to its three founders (emerging artists Ryan Lim Zi Yi, Lai Yu Tong and researcher Kwok Jia Yang), Robin comprises art exhibitions that take place in a small camping tent.

Why a camping tent? That’s anyone’s guess but back to the art: each show (there are a total of five exhibitions planned) takes place monthly in the tent, and works by three artists (two Singapore-based and one abroad) will be showcased each time, with the tent as the primary stage.

The first edition (held in November) featured artists Goh Abigail, Faiz bin Zohri and Jonas Johannes, and in the second edition It’s Hot and Hot, Never In Between, Robin will be showcasing works by artists Ong Si Hui, Genevieve Chua and Laura Hogeweg.

We’re excited to see how artists navigate such a small space and in a cheeky nod to the main purpose behind camping tents – the exhibition is open all night (no, really) this weekend. Just remember book a slot here to check it out.

December 18, 3pm to December 19, 6pm at Supernormal, #09-01 Poh Leng Building

STPI Creative Workshop & Gallery is putting on its annual Open House programme and it’s a fun one this year!

Themed around the idea of “kampong spirit”, they’ll be presenting print and papermaking activities inspired by quintessentially Singaporean elements, such as nostalgic childhood food, snacks, games and memories. There’s a whole range of workshops that cover various topics, such as an introduction to batik, how to create unique prints on fabrics, learn fundamental clay sculpting techniques (inspired by traditional kueh), how to weave a basket and many more.

The annual Open House provides a rare opportunity to explore STPI’s Creative Workshop, a rigorous space for artists to experiment with various print and papermaking techniques. Once a year, members of the public can step into the space for an exclusive insider’s look at its internal workings, including STPI’s in-house paper mill.

Check out the full list of activities here.

December 18 to December 19, 11am-5pm at 41 Robertson Quay

The Nordic Film Festival is the final bow on Singapore’s crowded film festival calendar – it shows exclusively at The Projector with a slate of 10 works from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, most of which are making their debuts in Singapore.

There’s something to suit every taste: the award-winning drama A Perfectly Normal Family (pictured), in which a happy family struggles to come to terms when the father turns out to be transgender and decides to officially make the transition to becoming a woman.

Then there’s Any Day Now – a poignant feature on an Iranian family living in a refugee centre in Finland who gets their asylum application denied. Held for Ransom is based on the true story of Danish photojournalist Daniel Rye who was held hostage for 398 days in Syria by the terror organisation ISIS, while Catwalk looks at the dreams of a group of people with disabilities who aspire to be fashion models.

Check out the full line-up here – get your tickets fast as most films will only be screened once.

December 16 to December 26 at #05-00 Golden Mile Tower

If you’re at National Gallery Singapore for the Nam June Paik blockbuster, be sure to check out the museum’s other anchor exhibition: Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real, which spotlights the works of Chua Mia Tee, one of the most important realist artists in Singapore’s art history.

It is Chua’s first solo institutional exhibition since 1992 and spans four decades of his artistic practice, with over 50 works alongside archival materials, filmic recordings, and quotes from the artist’s writings.

The show offers an interesting insight into not just his psyche but also a vivid look at social life during some of Singapore’s most transformative decades from the ’50s to the ’80s. Through his vivid depictions of the country and its inhabitants in this period, the exhibition examines the social tensions across different segments of society as Singapore was undergoing vast and rapid developments.

Chua is a founding member of the Equator Art Society, a group that consisted of artists who were primarily concerned with depicting social conditions and the masses, especially the labouring class – the latter being a topic that is once again occupying many discussions, especially the treatment of migrant workers in contemporary Singapore.

On now till November 20, 2022 at 1 St Andrew’s Road