Premiere artist talk: Ho Tzu Nyen

Ho Tzu Nyen, Artist, Singapore
Moderator: Shabbir Hussain Mustafa, Senior Curator and Head of Exhibitions, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi

Ho Tzu Nyen will explore his distinctive approach to history, cinema, and cultural narratives in conversation with Shabbir Hussain Mustafa, Senior Curator and Head of Exhibitions at Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Known for his richly layered films, installations, and performances, the Singaporean artist often draws from philosophy, literature, and regional histories to question how narratives are constructed. Timed to coincide with the unveiling of Night Charades – his AI-generated homage to Hong Kong cinema, co-commissioned by M+ and Art Basel, and presented by UBS – on the M+ Facade, this discussion will offer a deeper look into his evolving practice and the new directions his work will take in the years ahead.

Ho Tzu Nyen has exhibited widely, with solo shows at the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Singapore Art Museum, Hammer Museum, Guggenheim Bilbao, and Mori Art Museum. He represented Singapore at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011) and participated in the Whitney Biennial, Gwangju Biennale, Sharjah Biennial, and Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes. His work has been shown at Haus der Kulturen der Welt, National Gallery Singapore, and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. He was an artist-in-residence at DAAD Berlin (2015–16) and Asia Art Archive (2012–15).

Shabbir Hussain Mustafa is Senior Curator and Head of Exhibitions at the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. He has held positions at the Singapore Art Museum and National Gallery Singapore, where he forged connections between Southeast Asia and the world. His notable exhibitions include ‘Charles Lim Yi Yong: SEA STATE’ for the Singapore Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale; ‘Latiff Mohidin: Pago Pago’ (2018); ‘Tropical: Stories from Southeast Asia and Latin America’ (2023); and ‘Ho Tzu Nyen: Time and the Tiger’ (2023).

The program will be conducted in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, with simultaneous interpretation available. All talks will be recorded and available on YouTube and on the Art Basel website after the fair.

The Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 Conversations program is curated by Stephanie Bailey.

Conversations are free and open to all; no Art Basel ticket is needed to enter. To secure your place for this Conversation, please RSVP here to receive your digital ticket. Visitors without tickets will be welcomed on a first come first served basis.

Venue: Auditorium, N101B, Level 1, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.