Esplanade Presents

Visual Arts | Roving

Earth Performance Reenactment

In Partnership with Singapore Biennale 2025
Seung-taek Lee (South Korea)

14 Mar 2026, Sat, 5pm

15 Mar 2026, Sun, 5pm

30mins

(Intermission: None)

Meeting point: Esplanade Lawn (Outside Singtel Waterfront Theatre)

Free
Photo credit: Gallery Hyundai
not cache
Synopsis

Are you ready to roll? Earth needs your help to get to a safe place!

 

Earth Performance Reenactment features our planet Earth as a humongous 2.5m balloon, and it needs the help of caring children to roll it to a safe place in the Esplanade. This interactive performance reminds us that we all have a part to play in protecting our planet.

 

Inspired by the satellite images of Earth taken from space in the 1970s, artist Seung-taek Lee painted our planet onto a giant PVC balloon. Through various performances and activations, the artist used the oversized balloon Earth to communicate environmental issues at a time when postwar Korea was prioritising urbanisation and industrialisation. 

 

Earth Performance Reenactment is presented in partnership with Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention.

 

About the Earth Performance series 

A larger 7m version of the Earth balloon, Earth Play (1989) is currently exhibited at National Gallery Singapore, Supreme Court Wing, Level 3, Supreme Court Foyer, as part of Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention, until 29 March 2026. Find out more here.

Language: English
Things to Note:
Accessibility: All our venues are wheelchair-accessible. We offer various services to support patrons with access needs. For assistance, please contact Esplanade Customer Experience at 6828 8377. To learn more, read our accessibility guide.
Artist Information

Seung-taek Lee

Seung-taek Lee is a pioneering figure in Korean avant-garde art. He is recognised for his concept of "non-sculpture", which rejects traditional ideas of form, materiality and authorship. His multidisciplinary practice spans sculpture, painting, performance, photography and environmental works, often using humble materials such as rope, stones, hanji paper and tree branches to engage natural elements like wind, fire, water, and smoke. Rooted in Korean shamanistic traditions yet resonating with global avant-garde movements, his work questions what defines art and challenges social norms. His works are in major collections including The Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Modern, London; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; M+, Hong Kong; National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea; and the Museum of Contemporary Art Sydney.

Date & Time

14 Mar 2026, Sat

5pm

Meeting point: Esplanade Lawn (Outside Singtel Waterfront Theatre)

15 Mar 2026, Sun

5pm

Meeting point: Esplanade Lawn (Outside Singtel Waterfront Theatre)
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