Background Image: Lee Kang Seung, ‘Skin’, 2024. Image courtesy of the artist and Commonwealth and Council, Los Angeles; Gallery Hyundai, Seoul; Alexander Gray Associates, New York.

When we think of an archive, an intuitive association that comes to mind might be a physical space teeming with material objects, records and documents. By incorporating physical manifestations into artworks, Lost & Found: Embodied Archive is the second pillar of Singapore Art Museum’s (SAM) multi-phase, multi-year curatorial study project, which allows curators and artists to experiment with new formats. Can traditional methods of documentation fully capture and preserve an artwork? How can performances or bodily experiences be “collected” or remembered? Expanding on this notion, the exhibition invites visitors to consider the body as a reservoir of memory, where artworks choreograph our encounters with them, activating us bodily as visitors. 

From 25 October to 24 November 2024, visitors are invited to step between intersections of the body and memory to explore rituals of space, mind and humanity in a month-long exhibition at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Comprising nine artworks ranging from national collection pieces by Albert Yonathan Setyawan, Lee Wen and Gregory Halili, to loaned works by Tiyan Baker, Lee Kang Seung and Tuguldur Yodonjamts, and a new commission by Au Sow Yee & Chen Yow-Ruu (Her Lab Space), Lost & Found: Embodied Archive re-envisions the body as a convergence of the past and present while opening possibilities for new encounters and interpretations. 

This curatorial project engages emerging and established contemporary artists to explore the importance of archival documentation and records through artistic practices and community collaboration and to delve deeper into the notion and significance of archives. Reimagining how the experience of physical encounters being embedded in artworks and art experiences, Lost & Found: Embodied Archive offers visitors the opportunity to explore new ways of understanding and engaging with contemporary art. Beyond static works, the exhibition embraces the process of becoming by making space for the live nature of performative works in its midst. Many artists involved have also conceptualised performances, workshops, and talks that run concurrently over the month, slowly unfurling as works are activated in turn, creating an intentional space for movement, rhythm, and reflection. Participate actively in Lost & Found: Embodied Archive and its accompanying programmes and deepen your engagement in the interplay between artistic practices, memory, and the notion of the archive. 

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Annex: Lost & Found: Embodied Archive Programmes  

DETAILS	DESCRIPTION
PERFORMANCES
Cosmic Labyrinth by Albert Yonathan Setyawan   25 October 2024, Friday6.30pm – 8.30pm Level 3, Gallery 3 SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark Free  Installation view of ‘Cosmic Labyrinth’ by Albert Yonathan Setyawan (2011). Image courtesy of the artist.	Cosmic Labyrinth, a contemporary ceramic work with an integral live performance component, marks a pivotal moment in Albert Yonathan Setyawan’s artistic journey. The work was previously performed in Singapore in 2011, demonstrating to audiences the tranquillity of Setyawan’s artistic process through time. Through the artist’s durational performance and final presentation of the work, Cosmic Labyrinth invites visitors to contemplate the significance of being in time, a concept at the heart of Setyawan’s artistic process. Over the course of two hours, Setyawan will lay out handcrafted pagodas—a testament to his artistic labour. Arranged first as a labyrinth, then as a mandala, the pagodas take on a cosmic presence, which can also be felt in their profound presence of silence.
Tirta Maya by Rosemainy Buang and Zachary Chang 1 November 2024, Friday7pm – 8pmLevel 3, EX-SITU, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar DistriparkFreeRegistration Link: https://tirtamaya.peatix.com  Key Visual of ‘Tirta Maya’ – A Performance by Rosemainy Buang and Zachary Chan. Image courtesy of the artist.	Fleeting echoes in water reveal glimpses of an archipelagic expanse where the sea serves as a connective tissue. Tirta Maya is a song of water—a prayer, an invocation and an invitation to drift along its currents. Tirta Maya can be translated as “sacred water,” and the word “Maya” conjures a sense of the illusion, evoking the image of light dancing on the water’s surface. Through the ritual retelling of stories about water, we remember the buaya kembar, the double-headed naga, the cosmic turtle, water spirits and ghosts, allowing Tirta Maya to guide us through the currents of existence as they flow from the cosmic to the personal.  Tirta Maya was first released online as a music video as part of Lost & Found: Sea Chanty Project. This live performance brings the work to life by drawing it into a physical space. This performance takes place after museum opening hours. Visitors are encouraged to view the exhibition before 7pm.
[SAM Art Dose] Care Index: Performing Normal16 November 2024, Saturday2.30pm – 4.30pmLevel 3, EX-SITU, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar DistriparkFree with registrationRegistration Link: https://performingnormalnov16.peatix.com  Key Visual of ‘[SAM Art Dose] Care Index: Performing Normal’. Image courtesy of the artist.	Collaborating Artists: Alecia Neo, Claire Teo, Germaine Goh, Jaspreet Kaur Sekhon and Zhuo ZihaoSound Designer: Chong Li-Chuan Join our artists as they navigate the museum and engage with different sites through the use of dialogue, physical gestures and movement. This participatory performance challenges societal perceptions of normalcy by examining how disabled bodies and modes of communication are perceived, inviting participants to embrace new ways of connecting and understanding differences. Participants will immerse themselves in a collaborative experience that seeks to shift existing ableist culture and reimagine possibilities for human connection. This programme is an extension of a series of performance workshops that were presented at Singapore Art Museum. Performing Normal is part of Care Index, an ongoing artistic research project that seeks to understand care through movement and collaborative practices.
WORKSHOPS
Phantoms and Their Embodiment: A Journey on “Film” before Film by Au Sow Yee26 October 2024, Saturday10.30am – 12pmLevel 3, EX-SITU, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark$5 per participantRegistration Link: https://phantoms-embodiment.peatix.com  Key Visual of ‘Phantoms and Their Embodiment: A Journey on “Film” before Film by Au Sow Yee’. Image courtesy of the artist.	In response to Au Sow Yee & Chen Yow-Ruu (Her Lab Space)’s SAM commission work, Bad Dream Rocking a.k.a The Rocking Malay(a), this workshop offers a journey into the constructive history of moving images and the phantom power of its narrative. At the same time, it disenchants the maker and audience from being passive consumers of the image. Under the guidance of Au Sow Yee, audiences will learn how various devices used in the creation of moving images animate the spectators’ bodies through examples such as diorama, shadow play, zoetrope and magic lanterns. This workshop combines an artist talk with hands-on activities that involve optical toys, offering participants a unique opportunity to engage with the history of moving images in a playful and insightful manner.  This workshop is suitable for participants aged 16 years and above.
Navigating the Bodily Memory of Personal Archive by Chen Yow-Ruu26 October 2024, Saturday2pm – 4pm Level 3, EX-SITU, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark$5 per participantRegistration Link: https://bodilymemory.peatix.com  Key Visual of ‘Navigating the Bodily Memory of Personal Archive’ by Chen Yow-Ruu. Image courtesy of the artist.	In response to Au Sow Yee & Chen Yow-Ruu (Her Lab Space)’s SAM commission work, Bad Dream Rocking, a.k.a The Rocking Malay(a), this workshop invites participants to delve into an inspirational interplay between objects, emotions and personal narratives with artist Chen Yow Ruu. Participants will embark on a voyage of sensing while navigating the relationships between object, body and space, reconstructing life stories and personal narratives of objects. This workshop offers participants a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the emotional connections that can be forged with objects and to explore the power of personal narratives. Participants are required to each bring an object (which may include clothes and accessories) that carries a personal story and are encouraged to dress comfortably. This workshop is suitable for participants aged 12 years and above.
FILM SCREENINGS
ONE DAY PINA ASKED… (1983)Directed by Chantal Akerman France-Belgium | In French with English subtitles | 1983 | 57 min | NC16 (Some Nudity)2 November 2024, Saturday2pm – 3.30pmLevel 3, EX-SITU, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar DistriparkFree (General admission fees to the exhibition apply)Registration Link: https://onedaypinaasked.peatix.com  Key Visual of ‘ONE DAY PINA ASKED… (1983)’. Image courtesy of Icarus Films.	Join us for a screening of Chantal Akerman’s acclaimed documentary, ONE DAY PINA ASKED… (1983), a captivating exploration of the life and work of legendary choreographer Pina Bausch. ONE DAY PINA ASKED… (1983) offers an intimate glimpse into the world of Bausch’s Wuppertal Dance Theater company, capturing their rehearsals, performances and personal reflections. Through Akerman’s lens, we witness the power and emotion of Bausch’s innovative dance style, blending movement, monologue and narrative to explore themes of love, memory and human connection. After the screening, a facilitated discussion will take place with exhibition curator Hsu Fang Tze and Dr. Tania Roy, Senior Lecturer and Chair of the Graduate Programme in English Literature at NUS. Explore the themes of dance, art and the human experience as depicted in ONE DAY PINA ASKED… (1983). ONE DAY PINA ASKED… (1983) is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Lost & Found: Embodied Archive, which explores the intersection of contemporary art and social issues. About Film Director Chantal Akerman (1950–2015) was a pioneering Belgian filmmaker whose innovative and deeply personal films challenged traditional cinematic conventions. Renowned for her minimalist style and focus on everyday life, Akerman’s work often explored themes of identity, gender and sexuality. Often featuring strong female protagonists, her films invited viewers to immerse themselves in her unique and thought-provoking cinematic universe. Akerman’s contributions to the world of cinema remain an inspiration for filmmakers and audiences alike, and her work continues to be celebrated for its originality, honesty and artistic vision. About the Speakers Dr. Tania Roy is Senior Lecturer and Convenor of the MA Programme in Literary Studies (English, Literature and Theatre Studies) at the National University of Singapore. She is the author of Adorno and the Architects of Late Style in India: Aesthetic Form after the Twentieth-century Novel. Her interests include contemporary visual art in post-liberalised India with an emphasis on memory-work in relation to civic violence, especially under the regime of Hindu supremacism, and ecological aesthetics. Her writing on these topics has appeared in Cultural Politics, boundary 2, Theory, Culture & Society, European Paradigms and as several book chapters. She also serves as Senior Editor for Cultural Politics. Dr. Hsu Fang Tze is a curator at Singapore Art Museum (SAM), with previous experience as a lecturer in the Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Over the past decade, she has extended her expertise beyond academia, actively engaging as a curator, film programmer, and archivist. Her current research pursuits revolve around the nuanced exploration of sonic modernity, Cold War aesthetics, and the convergence of critical curation historiography with a decolonial pedagogical approach.
SHADOW (2022)Directed by Bruce Gladwin Australia | In English | 2022 | 57 min | PG13 (Some Coarse Language and Sexual References)9 November 2024, Saturday2pm – 3.30pm Level 3, EX-SITU, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar DistriparkFree (General admission fees to the exhibition apply)Registration Link: https://shadow2022.peatix.com  Key Visual of ‘SHADOW (2022)’. Image courtesy of Icarus Films.	Join us for a thought-provoking screening of Shadow (2022), the acclaimed feature-length film from Australia’s Back to Back Theatre. Directed by Bruce Gladwin, Shadow (2022) is a darkly humorous adaptation of the award-winning stage play The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes. The film follows a group of passionate activists with intellectual disabilities as they navigate the complex world of technology. Together, they grapple with the looming impact of AI and discuss its potential societal implications. After the screening, a facilitated discussion will take place with exhibition curator Hsu Fang Tze and film programmer/filmmaker Alexander Lee. In this discussion, they will unpack and investigate the various thematic focuses of the film through the interconnection between notions of inclusion and communication. Shadow (2022) is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Lost & Found: Embodied Archive, which explores the intersection of contemporary art and social issues. About Film Director Bruce Gladwin is a leading Australian playwright and director, renowned for his innovative work with Back to Back Theatre. His plays explore themes of disability, society and technology, and often incorporate the use of multimedia elements. Gladwin has won numerous awards for his contributions to Australian theatre, including the Australia Council for the Arts’s Inaugural Award for Outstanding Achievement in Theater. His work has been presented at prestigious arts festivals worldwide, showcasing his unique approach to storytelling and his commitment to social justice. About the Speakers Alexander Lee is a film programmer and filmmaker based in Singapore. As the programme manager at the Mental Health Film Festival Singapore (2022–2024), he curated thought-provoking films and panels to address mental health issues and foster open dialogue. His experience spans various aspects of film. He participated in the critics’ lab at the Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival (YIDFF) and the Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF). He has also filmed multiple shorts and collaborated with filmmakers on narrative projects. Currently, he is part of the programming team at the Asian Film Archive. Dr Hsu Fang Tze is a curator at Singapore Art Museum (SAM), with previous experience as a lecturer in the Department of Communications and New Media at the National University of Singapore (NUS). Over the past decade, she has extended her expertise beyond academia, actively engaging as a curator, film programmer, and archivist. Her current research pursuits revolve around the nuanced exploration of sonic modernity, Cold War aesthetics, and the convergence of critical curation historiography with a decolonial pedagogical approach.
TOUR
Curator Tour with SgSL Interpretation16 November 2024, Saturday1pm – 1.45pmLevel 3, Gallery 3SAM at Tanjong Pagar DistriparkFreeKey Visual of ‘Curator Tour with SgSL Interpretation’. Image courtesy of Singapore Art Museum.	Lost & Found: Embodied Archive unpacks how artists radically re-envision the body as a reservoir of memory. Find out more about how the participating artists have incorporated physical encounters into their artworks to demonstrate ways in which memory is ingrained in history. This 45-minute tour will be led by SAM curator, Joella Kiu. Delivered in spoken English with Singapore Sign Language (SgSL) interpretation by Equal Dreams, this programme is intended for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing community. After the tour, participants are welcome to stay for a special edition of SAM Art Dose, presented in collaboration with ART:DIS. This tour is suitable for participants aged 16 and above.
TALKS
Between (Un)tamed Worlds by Tuguldur Yondonjamts22 November 2024, Friday7pm – 8pm Level 3, EX-SITU, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar DistriparkFree with registrationRegistration Link: https://betweenuntamedworlds.peatix.com  Key Visual of ‘Between (Un)tamed Worlds by Tuguldur Yondonjamts’. Image courtesy of the artist.	Tuguldur Yondonjamts’s work explores the complex connections between nature, language and mythology, blending traditional Mongolian culture with contemporary art practices. His work serves as a fictional investigation into the relationships between tamed and untamed worlds. His practice spans drawing, sculpture, video and sound, reimagining how we communicate across different realms of existence. By focusing primarily on animals, their habitats and the sonic landscapes they inhabit, Yondonjamts reveals a deeper connection between humans and nature. Lost & Found: Embodied Archive features The Secret Mountain of Falcons, a series of four drawing books depicting a falcon’s journey through the Mongolian landscape. Using this work as a starting point, Yondonjamts will share his process of decoding the visual and linguistic information contained in ancient texts and natural landscapes, as well as how his research into Mongolian mythology, shamanism and science creates a dialogue between time, space and species.
Recovering Indigenous Language Through Art Practice by Tiyan Baker23 November 2024, Saturday11am – 12pmLevel 3, EX-SITU, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar DistriparkFree with registrationRegistration Link: https://tiyanbaker.peatix.com  Key Visual of ‘Recovering Indigenous Language Through Art Practice’. Image courtesy of the artist.	Tiyan Baker is an artist that centres her Bidayǔh culture in her works by exploring the connections between the Bidayǔh language, ancestral land, the body, knowing and seeing.  In this talk, she will share her story of learning Bukar Bidayǔh from scratch, how her study has culminated in a body of artwork and research, and where she will be going with it next. Bukar Bidayǔh is her mother’s native tongue and is spoken by the indigenous Bidayǔh people who live in villages at the base of the Bung Sadung mountain range, a two-hour drive from the capital city of Sarawak, Kuching. Where learning a language today is often regimented by encyclopaedic dictionaries and pedagogies, Baker’s endeavour to learn Bukar Bidayǔh far from the land it originated is a celebration of the imperfections and mutations of language. Baker’s interest in access to pre colonial knowledge and relationships that language might offer can be seen through her approach to Bukar Bidayǔh as technology and as a system of thought.
DROP-IN ACTIVITIES
Lost & Found Art Jam (Mini-Mobile Making) 23 November 2024, Wednesday2pm – 3pm  Level 3, Main Deck, #03-07 SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark	Unleash your creativity at our Lost & Found Art Jam: Mini-Mobile Making session! In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the world of three-dimensional assemblages and craft their unique mobiles using a variety of found objects and recyclable materials. Materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring clean or recyclable items to use in their works of art, such as old toys, buttons, ice cream sticks, and beads, just to name a few. Please bring along a bag to take home your masterpieces. Here is a glimpse of what you and your child will accomplish during the workshop: Creative Exploration: Participants will discover the joy of transforming found items into beautiful works of art. Personal Expression: Each participant will design and assemble their mobile, making it a unique reflection of their imagination. Eco-Friendly Fun: We encourage participants to bring any found items or recyclable materials they’d like to use, promoting creativity while supporting sustainability.  Whether your child is an aspiring artist or just loves getting hands-on, this session promises fun, inspiration, and a sense of accomplishment as they create their piece of art. For more information, visit SAM’s website here. Recommended for children aged 5 – 12 years
Lost & Found Art Jam (Portrait Style) 23 November 2024,Wednesday4pm – 5pm  Level 3, Main Deck, #03-07SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark	Unleash your creativity at our Lost & Found Art Jam: Portrait Style session! In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the world of three-dimensional assemblages and craft their unique portraitures using a variety of found objects and recyclable materials.  Materials will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring clean or recyclable items, such as old toys, buttons, ice cream sticks, and beads, to use in their works of art. Please bring along a bag to take home your masterpieces.  Here is a glimpse of what you and your child will accomplish during the workshop: Creative Exploration: Participants will discover the joy of transforming found items into beautiful works of art. Personal Expression: Each participant will design and assemble their portrait, uniquely reflecting their imagination. Eco-Friendly Fun: We encourage participants to bring any found items or recyclable materials they’d like to use, promoting creativity while supporting sustainability. Whether your child is an aspiring artist or just loves getting hands-on, this session promises fun, inspiration, and a sense of accomplishment as they create their piece of art. For more information, visit SAM’s website here. Recommended for children aged 5 – 12 years.