Ink, Paper, Power: Inside STPI’s Inaugural 'The Print Show & Symposium Singapore'
A landmark inaugural initiative in Singapore redefines printmaking as a sophisticated global vanguard, bridging physical craftsmanship and conceptual innovation.
In the midst of Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2026’s champagnes and canvases, the inaugural The Print Show & Symposium Singapore reminded us of a power player that not only serves as a collectible medium, but as a primary for conceptual innovation. Organized by STPI — a cornerstone of the region’s national Visual Arts Cluster — as a core anchor of SAW the event transformed Robertson Quay into a sanctuary of high-concept ink and paper and offered a sophisticated dual experience: a curated exhibition of global icons and a rigorous intellectual deep-dive into the “politics” of the medium. Spanning from 22 January to 7 February, the showcase turned a spotlight on the “expanded field” of print, proving that in a world of digital saturation, the physical impress of ink on paper remains majestic.
The effortless curation of the gallery floor will immediately strike you when you spot a Julie Mehretu abstraction alongside the layered, sculptural paper works of Irfan Hendrian. The Print Show was a visual conversation that spanned not only continents but also generations; a roster of 27 global heavyweights including Jeff Koons, David Hockney, Yayoi Kusama, and the late, legendary Louise Bourgeois graced STPI’s walls. Natee Utarit’s serigraph, “IT WOULD BE SILLY TO BE JEALOUS OF A FLOWER,” served as a focal point, almost paying homage to the effortless ingenuity of print. More than just a survey of “multiples,” the showcase stood as an invitation to really look at the medium through the eyes of these art titans, where every pull of the press is a singular act of creation.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show 2026, Installation View. Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
The Print Show’s precise execution of curated accessibility breaks down any walls of fears of judgements. Executive Director Emi Eu aptly noted that the platform specifically aimed to connect both budding and seasoned collectors during a time when prints and multiples are taking up a vital space in the global art world. The coming together of international powerhouses like Two Palms and Crown Point Press and regional stalwarts such as Ota Fine Arts and Richard Koh Fine Arts makes a strong case of why printmaking is currently the most exciting frontier for anyone looking to build a serious collection. Meanwhile, the presence of global and regional icons like Takashi Murakami, Chris Ofili ,Dinh Q. Lê, Hilmi Johandi and STPI residents Kim Lim and Do Ho Suh solidifies the medium’s role in contemporary art in the present day.
The intellectual heartbeat of the week, however, pulsed just down the road at 72-13 Mohamed Sultan Road, where the symposium “The Politics of Print: elephant in the room” unfolded. Curated by Stephanie Bailey, the two-day program was a refreshingly confrontational deep-dive into the medium’s radical soul. From panels exploring the “new print renaissance” with leaders from Sotheby’s and Avant Arte to a performance-based “Crit Club” by artist Cem A. (the provocateur behind @freeze_magazine), the symposium tackled everything from the DNA of NFTs to the history of woodcuts as democratic tools in Southeast Asia.
Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
Image Courtesy Of Stpi, Singapore.
Executive Director Eu said it best: this landmark initiative is about opening up the world of contemporary art through a medium that is both deeply democratic and intensely sophisticated. By the time the final keynote between Salima Hashmi and Rirkrit Tiravanija concluded, the verdict was unanimous: STPI has signaled a global shift in art’s hierarchy. For the modern collector, the lesson is clear. The future of the avant-garde isn’t just on a digital screen; it’s intricately pressed, beautifully inked, and patiently waiting for you at the quay.
The Print Show is open to the public for free until February 7 at STPI.
STPI
41 Robertson Quay
Singapore 238236
