Artist Statement
Samuel Xun (b. 1994 Singapore) is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Singapore. His practice is centred around the exploration of queer identity, self-therapy, and introspection through sculpture, context-based installation, and textile composition. His works delve into the complex interplay of emotionality, cognisance, and aesthesis, often through the examination of cultural and personal symbols, frequently inspired by film, cultural milieu, and personal narrative.
Samuel’s oeuvre focuses on the intricacies of self-discovery and individuality, and the complexities of the human psyche. Positing the use of colour, texture, and text as a means to convey humanistic resolutions to societal discourse, Samuel's works endeavour to solicit introspection and contemplation of the spectator's social condition, and question our motivations towards personal resolution. With a sophisticated and nuanced approach to materials and subject matter, Samuel invites us to re-evaluate the narratives we construct for ourselves and the impact they have on our world view.
Drawing from his background in Fashion, Samuel's art is marked by a meticulous and deeply entrenched relationship with materials. His creative process is labour-intensive and serves as a meditative reflection on realities from past and present. This intimate relationship with materials is reflected in his signature ornamentation of surfaces and use of sugary palettes across his body of work, often taking the form of intricate and abstract visual systems that are open-ended in nature. Ultimately, Samuel is interested in how art can provide catharsis, facilitate empathy, preserve culture, and foster better interaction within and across different groups of society.
Samuel is a graduate from LASALLE College of the Arts, holding a BA in Fashion Design & Textiles. His works have been exhibited in New York, Chiang Mai, and Singapore, and are in the collections of the three ASEAN institutions and the Mandarin Oriental Singapore collection. His recent exhibitions include a participation at ART SG 2023 with Richard Koh Fine Arts, and group exhibitions Serving Thots, UltraSuperNew Gallery (2023), Nature & Now: Asian Art in Focus, Friedrichs Pontone, New York (2023), There Are Flowers in the Morning Mist, Supper House, Singapore (2023), State of Play, Richard Koh Fine Arts, Singapore (2022), Veneer & Visage, Supper House, Singapore (2022). Samuel and his work have also been published in Thai Post, South China Morning Post, VOGUE Singapore, The Straits Times, ELLE Singapore, Female, L’OFFICIEL, MU/SE, Nüyou (女友), and Mensfolio.
︎ studio@samuelxun.com
Solo Exhibitions
2022: I’m Exhausted, Where is He? - Art & Market, Art Agenda, Singapore
Selected Group Exhibitions
2023: Tribeca Summer Show - Friedrichs Pontone, New York
2023: KONNECT ASEAN Chiang Mai Print Residency - Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Centre, Chiang Mai
2023: 七彩世界 - The Supper House, Singapore
2023: Serving Thots - UltraSuperNew Gallery, Singapore
2023: Diverse Visions - Richard Koh Fine Arts, Singapore
2023: Nature & Now: Asian Art in Focus - Friedrichs Pontone, New York
2023: ART SG 2023: NEW/NOW - with Richard Koh Fine Arts, Marina Bay Sands Expo, Singapore
2023: There Are Flowers in the Morning Mist - SAW23, The Supper House, Singapore
2022: State of Play - Richard Koh Fine Arts, Singapore
2022: The World Is Flat After All - The Supper House, Singapore
2022: Veneer & Visage - The Supper House, Singapore
2022: It's my party and I'll cry if I want to, you would cry too if it happened to you - SAW23, The Projector, Singapore
2021: Dress/Address - Grey Projects, Singapore
2021: only losers left alive (love songs for the end of the world) - Yeo Workshop, Singapore
2021: Creative Unions - SAW21, Funan, Singapore
2020: The Foot Beneath the Flower - NTU ADM Gallery, Singapore
Artist Residencies
2023: KONNECT ASEAN Print Residency - ASEAN Foundation, Chiang Mai
Private/Public Collections
ASEAN Foundation (Jakarta)
ASEAN Cultural Centre (Bangkok)
ASEAN Culture House (Busan)
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Press/Publications
2023: Plural Art Mag - A little sparkle never hurt anyone: A Conversation with emerging artist Samuel Xun
2023: FEMALE Singapore - Things To Do In Singapore: Exhibitions That Explore Queer Narratives & More
2023: South China Morning Post - How Singapore’s art scene is making a big comeback in 2023
2023: Plural Art Mag - Team Plural Art Mag Reflects on SAW23
2022: Art Basel - Six gallery exhibitions to see during Singapore Art Week
2022: The Straits Times - Arts Picks: 29 Singapore artists in 3 group exhibitions show new work
2022: The Straits Times - Singapore Art Week everywhere - in hawker centres and even in toilets
2021: VOGUE Singapore - From Rachael Cheong to Samuel Xun, this fashion and art exhibition is spotlighting the local creatives to know
2021: L’OFFICIEL Singapore - Art & Soul
2021: VOGUE Singapore - Drag queen Salome Blaque & designer Samuel Xun come together for a moment in local fashion
2020: ELLE Singapore - ELLE Perspectives: Between the Seams
2020: NUYOU Singapore - Risk Takers
2020: Female Singapore - The Academy Awards