Breath of the Land《呼吸之地》is a response to Singapore’s ever-evolving built environment, reflecting on themes of belonging, utility and memories embedded in the urban landscape. Lim Soo Ngee and Yang Jie explore the idea of spaces “breathing”, drawing on the constellation of relationships and layered histories that circulate places. Rooted in a shared interest in our relationship with the past, the artists work extensively with found materials and objects in their practices, examining how material culture bears the imprints of passing time.

The Esplanade Concourse is transformed into a stage reminiscent of those used for street operas in 1960s Singapore. Large architectural structures are sheathed in construction materials like tarpaulin and safety netting, alluding to the country’s constant pursuit of urban renewal. The installation comes alive as the sculptures expand and contract, revealing traditional objects like a coffee pot, tingkat and cooking implements hidden within, evoking scenes of streetside hawkers and bygone days. Breath of the Land《呼吸之地》reclaims and retells shared memories, of how echoes of a distant past continue to reach into the present.

As part of their creative process, the artists brainstormed their ideas through constructing a text collaboratively.

A programme of 60 Connections – At Home and Afar, a year-long season of Singapore stories and international collaborations in celebration of SG60.