Gathering Ground 2025

Between Lands: Migration as Transformation

In our era of global displacement, this exhibition – co-presented by The Substation and Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) – brings together seven distinctive voices from Southeast Asia to explore the lived collective realities and personal landscapes that emerge through experiences of migration. Through storytelling, audience activation and a call to critical awareness, each artist engages viewers to interrogate facets of the migrant, diasporic, or cultural displacement experience, shaped by geopolitical turmoil and climate disruption.

• Bui Cong Khanh presents recent work on the assimilation of Vietnamese labourers displaced to France during the colonial era.

• Justin Loke creates  new work about notions of human physiognomic classification, a pseudo-scientific method of othering, weaving stories around European diasporas in Asia.

• Jakkai Siributr explores traumatic memory and statelessness through audience-engaging needlework.

• Jason Lim interrogates East/West ideological differences through transnational performance.

• The three Myanmar artists Yadanar Win, Nge Lay, and Aung Ko, have been actively exploring the experiences of migrant workers internationally, even before moving to France in 2021.

They collectively testify that migration is more than an individual plight, but rather a fundamental collective phenomenon that emerges from feelings of alienation and loss while drawing on our innate capacity for adaptation, home building, and connection across differences.

Between Lands: Migration as Transformation gives rise to new hybrid identities from which emerge new artistic languages and shared narratives that are respectful of diversity. Can these artistic practices help us think through prevailing feelings of uprootedness, dissolution of cultural bonds, loss of a shared world? In an eraof global mobility and amid unprecedented interconnection, can these artists’ perspectives elicit our more thoughtful and compassionate action?

All seven artists are alumni of the artist-in-residence programme of Fondation la Roche Jacquelin of Southeast Asian Contemporary Art in France, which is The Substation’s residency partner for Sub+ Residencies 2024/2025.

The project is part of Gathering Ground 2025 organised by The Substation, and Asia-Europe Cultural Festival 2025 – Closing Curtain organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), with the financial support of the People’s Republic of China and venue partnership with Goethe-Institut Singapore.

Event Information

Vernissage
4 Oct 2025, 6.00pm (5.30pm Exhibition Preview)

Programme:

5.30pm – Exhibition Preview

6.00pm – Vernissage with Performances by Jason Lim, Nge Lay, and Bui Cong Khanh

7.00pm - Light refreshments followed by Dialogue Session

In Transit: Dialogue Session
4 Oct 2025, 7.15pm (60min)

Moderator: Valentina Riccardi (Director, Culture Department, ASEF)

Speakers:

• Tamares Goh, Head of Visual Arts, The Esplanade Co Ltd

• Dr. Asma Diakité, Director, Goethe-Institut Singapore

• Bui Cong Khanh, Participating Artist

• Goh Cheng Hao, Sub+ Youth Curator

Exhibition Period
5 - 12 Oct 2025

Opening Hours:

Sat - Sun: 11.00am – 7.00pm
Mon - Fri: 4.00pm – 8.00pm

Venue
136 Goethe Lab, Neil Road, Singapore

Admission:

Free by donation to The Substation. Registration is required due to limited capacity.

Recommended Donation

• Vernissage - 4 October $30 (includes the exhibition preview, performances, dialogue session and cocktail reception)

• Exhibition only - 5 - 12 October: $10

Featured Artists

Aung Ko [Myanmar]
Bùi Công Khánh [Viet Nam]
Jakkai Siributr [Thailand]
Jason Lim [Singapore]
Justin Loke [Singapore]
Nge Lay [Myanmar]
Yadanar Win [Myanmar]

Sub+ Youth Curators Programme

Goh Cheng Hao [Singapore]
Foo Wee San [Singapore]
Phyllis Chan [Singapore]

Programming Team

The Substation Gathering Ground 2025
Pok Yue Weng – Programme Director
Daniel Lim – General Manager
Olivia Tay – Senior Programmes & Admin Manager
Kim Dy-Liacco – Marketing & Communications
Jean-Louis Morisot – Advisor & Residency Partner
Iola Lenzi – Advisor & Residency Partner

Asia-Europe Cultural Festival 2025
Valentina Riccardi, Director, ASEF Culture Department
Giulia Poli, Project Manager, ASEF Culture Department
Adlina Binti Mohd Anis, Project Officer, ASEF Culture Department