How might we situate He Xiangning’s practices in the historical conditions that made them urgent? He Xiangning was not only an artist but also a political figure, a social activist and a committed advocate for women’s rights. In 1924, she initiated one of the country’s earliest International Women’s Day rallies and delivered a speech that called on women to align personal liberation with the broader struggle against imperialism and feudalism.
Held in conjunction with the exhibition He Xiangning: Ink & Intent, this online lecture by historian Professor Tani Barlow reconsiders He Xiangning’s art and activism within the context of early Chinese feminist movement. Tracing her expansive networks and affiliations, the lecture offers a comparative reading alongside contemporaries such as Qiu Jin, highlighting how revolutionary consciousness was collectively imaged.
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When: 18 Aug 2026, 8–9.30pm - Suitable For: Adults, Families, Visitors with accessibility needs, Students and Educators, Young Adults
- Where: Online via Zoom
- Ticket information: Free, registration required
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He Xiangning: Ink & Intent | 何香凝：画就丹青凭寄意
A leading ink artist and a prominent political figure, He Xiangning played an important role in the development of modern China. Featuring over 50 ink works and archival materials, the exhibition reconnects He Xiangning's artistic activities and significance to Chinese modern art, Singapore, Penang and the region’s art history.
Fear No Power: Women Imagining Otherwise
Fear No Power: Women Imagining Otherwise highlights the lives and practices of five artists from Southeast Asia for whom art, life, kinship and community are inseparable. Featuring Imelda Cajipe-Endaya (Philippines), Nirmala Dutt (Malaysia), Amanda Heng (Singapore), Dolorosa Sinaga (Indonesia), and Phaptawan Suwannakudt (Thailand), the exhibition honours their multi-faceted roles—not only as artists, but also as educators, writers or community organisers.
Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art (R18)
Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art explores how desire, eroticism and the body have shaped artistic practices and cultural discourses in the Southeast Asia. Featuring rarely seen artworks from the National Collection alongside key regional loans, the exhibition embraces the power and presence of desire in art and life. Discover bold, provocative expressions that blur the boundaries we keep between the private and public, the intimate and sublime, soft pleasures and hard politics.