Director of S’pore Art Museum steps down
Dr Susie Lingham.
SINGAPORE — The Singapore Art Museum (SAM) announced in a statement today (Dec 18) that Dr Susie Lingham will be stepping down as director of the SAM. She has held the position since August 2013. Her last day will be on March 31 next year.
Dr Lingham intends to continue her work as an artist, writer, educator and curator after she steps down, the statement added.
“It has been an amazing experience being the director of the Singapore Art Museum, where I was able to work in close creative collaboration with the SAM team to set the course for SAM’s new mandate as the contemporary art museum of Singapore,” said Dr Lingham in the statement.
In her time at SAM, Dr Lingham led a new vision for the museum, which took more a thematic approach to its exhibitions. Some of the exhibitions she oversaw include President’s Young Talents, which featured contemporary works by five of Singapore’s artists; 5 Stars, which offered art based on what the five stars in Singapore’s national flag represented; and Time Of Others, an exhibition that looked at how people perceived the passing of time.
In addition, she also managed the Singapore Biennale 2013 and was instrumental in developing the curatorial model and foundation for the upcoming Singapore Biennale next year.
Jane Ittogi, chairman, Singapore Art Museum Board, said Dr Lingham had, with her “unusual gifted shepherding”, led SAM into “new territory in imaginative and rigorous curatorial directions”.
She added that it was because of to Dr Lingham’s efforts that SAM “is today recognised for its specialisation in contemporary art, and especially from South-east Asia”.
In the meantime, senior curators Tan Siuli and Joyce Toh will take over Dr Lingham’s curatorial duties as curatorial co-heads until the SAM finds a replacement for Dr Lingham. Meanwhile, SAM CEO Leng Tshua and senior staff will continue to oversee the administrative aspects of the museum.
The statement added that the museum’s search for Dr Lingham’s replacement will commence next year, and that SAM will be looking for an individual with appropriate leadership, curatorial and academic experience, as well as a deep interest in contemporary issues and contemporary art.
Tan and Toh, who have already commenced their curatorial duties, will remain as curatorial co-heads.
