The Singapore International Photography Festival is a biennial gathering of minds from around the world with the common pursuit of advancing the art and appreciation of photography. It aims to be a much-needed arena for critical thought and academic discussion on photography in Southeast Asia and functions as a key platform to discover, nurture, and propel Southeast Asian photographers onto the international stage. SIPF20 is centered around the subject of Departing and Arriving and will provide a sojourn into our sense of belonging and identities amid current uncertainties. “We dive into our past histories and our belief systems, laying new claims on our cultural ancestry – some parts are discarded for us to arrive at who we are,” write the curators. “The journey is not without challenges as we revisit and redefine the grounds we stand for, but it is necessary if we want to understand ourselves—in Singapore, and globally,” they add.

The exhibition highlights (2020-2021) include Kevin WY Lee’s presentation of black and white photographs taken on a family road trip to his father’s home rice-farming village in southern China in 2012; Liu Ying’s meditation on how perfectionist living habits that are intended to bring about a degree of cleanliness can ultimately be counterproductive; Seba Kurtis’ response to two incidents where refugees lost their lives amidst the arduous journey to safety; and the sixth chapter of Vasantha Yogananthan’s long-term project A Myth of Two Souls inspired by the epic tale The Ramayana. In other standout shows, Margins: Drawing Pictures of Home presents the works of 15 Singapore photographers that bring home some of the pertinent topics quiescently essential to Singaporeans, and The Amazing ABC of Photography displays a collection of acclaimed photographers from various walks of life including Martin Parr, Nan Goldin, Wolfgang Tillmans, Alec Soth, Achim Lippoth, and Sebastiao Salgado.

Running in parallel to the exhibitions is a series of supporting events, among which Yumi Goto will lead a six-day masterclass focusing on the process of storytelling; Robert Zhao will host a workshop focused on documenting nature in urban cities and discovering narratives of human and non-human species in our daily environments; and a host of renowned editors, curators, and festival directors will be offering online portfolio reviews. To book a slot and learn more about SIPF20, visit  https://sipf.sg/