SG · International contemporary art platformThe exhibition 'Passion is Volcanic: Desire in Southeast Asian Art' runs until 20 September 2026 at the National Gallery Singapore, located in the City Hall Wing, Level 4. It is open exclusively to visitors aged 18 and above, with valid identification required for age verification at the entrance.
Organised into three thematic sections—Asian Mythos and Ritual, Conventions of the Erotic, and Public Arenas/Private Interiors—the exhibition explores how desire has been expressed and reimagined across various cultural and historical contexts in Southeast Asia.
Featuring rarely seen artworks from the National Collection alongside important regional loans, the exhibition highlights the power and presence of desire in both art and life. To preserve the experience, photography and videography are not permitted within the exhibition space.
The September 2026 programme at the National Gallery centres on the final weeks of this exhibition, giving visitors a limited window to engage with its rich and provocative content before it closes.
This event offers a unique chance for mature audiences to reflect on the diverse representations of desire in Southeast Asian art, presented through a carefully curated selection of works that challenge and expand conventional perspectives.
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