The National Gallery has unveiled Singaporean artist Ming Wong as its Artist in Residence for 2025, marking an exciting collaboration that promises to merge the worlds of cinema, performance, and contemporary art with the historic treasures of the Gallery’s collection.
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Renowned for his interdisciplinary practice, Wong explores the politics of identity and representation through film, performance, painting, and installation. His works often re-stage iconic scenes from world cinema to examine the construction of individual and national identities. Recent projects have seen him engage with speculative futures, Sino-American relations, and cross-gender opera, reflecting his bold and thought-provoking approach.
During his residency, Wong will work in the Gallery’s on-site artist’s studio, enjoying close access to its vast collection and archives. He has also been invited to respond to the collections of this year’s partner museum, the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery in Swansea, which houses an inspiring array of Welsh and international art, from 19th-century masterpieces to contemporary works.
The residency will conclude with a publication and a winter 2025 presentation showcasing the fruits of Wong’s engagement with these collections. Additionally, an artwork created during the residency will be acquired for Glynn Vivian’s permanent collection, supported by a collaboration with the Contemporary Art Society and the generosity of patron Suling Mead.
Reflecting on the residency, Wong said, “It’s such an exciting time to be granted this opportunity to re-navigate myself in the journeys of European art as the National Gallery celebrates 200 years with a rehang of its collection. There isn’t a better time to reimagine the stories that these characters and creatures inhabiting these worlds can tell one another, and their exchanges that cross centuries and civilisations beyond the frames.”
Daniel F. Herrmann, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Projects at the National Gallery, expressed his enthusiasm for Wong’s appointment: “With genuine compassion, curiosity and grace, Ming Wong’s work asks how the images and culture around us create notions of ourselves and others. We are excited to be working with him during his residency, particularly as we reflect on the Gallery’s 200-year history.”
The programme also harnesses the partnership between the National Gallery and Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. Karen MacKinnon, Curator of Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, remarked, “We can’t wait to see how our collections can inspire Ming Wong to create one of his playful and thought-provoking artworks; it will be an honour to be gifted one of these into Glynn Vivian’s permanent collection.”
This marks the fifth iteration of the National Gallery’s Artist in Residence programme as part of its Modern and Contemporary Projects, following acclaimed artists such as Rosalind Nashashibi and Katrina Palmer. Caroline Douglas, Director of the Contemporary Art Society, added, “Every Artist in Residence has brought unique new perspectives to the collection and the institution of the Gallery itself, challenging our ideas and making us see the familiar with fresh eyes. Ming Wong is set to do just that.”
Wong’s residency comes at a historic time for the National Gallery, as it celebrates its bicentennial year. For audiences, it’s an unmissable chance to witness a unique dialogue between past and present unfold.
More information at nationalgallery.org.uk
Image: Photo © The National Gallery, London