The director of the Singapore Art Museum, Susie Lingham, has decided to step down after just over two years in the role. Lingham, who has a doctorate in literature, religion and philosophy from the University of Sussex, replaced Tan Boon Hui in August 2013.
A museum spokeswoman says that Lingham will leave on 31 March 2016. “We are in active discussions with Dr Lingham at the moment for a continued role in the 2016 Singapore Biennale (28 October 2016-26 February 2017),” she adds. “Joyce Toh and Tan Siuli are currently the co-heads of the curatorial team.”
Lingham oversaw 13 exhibitions during her tenure including 5 Stars: Art Reflects on Peace, Justice, Equality, Democracy and Progress (until 2 May 2016) which, says a press statement, “salutes Singapore’s Golden Jubilee and the five stars on the Singapore flag representing universal humanist ideals”.
Since 2013, Singapore Art Museum has operated as an independent institution in a “visual arts cluster” along with the National Art Gallery and the Singapore Tyler Print Institute.
“The Singapore Art Museum focuses on international contemporary art practices, specialising in Singapore and Southeast Asia,” says the museum website. The museum, housed in a 19th-century mission school, opened in 1996.
