Draft:Justin Loke

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  • Comment: substantial edits since the last submission, but still needs some work. You need inline citations on all content, aim for a citation for every sentence. Content like this: "Although primarily known as a visual artist, Loke has also engaged with literature, drawing particular influence from Spanish and Latin American writers. His literary work has included translation, approached both in the linguistic sense and as a form of intertextual and comparative reading within philological and etymological contexts." can just be removed. WP:PROMO concerns throughout. Caleb Stanford (talk) 00:20, 1 September 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: Declining again for now. I suggest you rewriting it from scratch, not using AI. The Career section should be the focus of the article and it should summarize in prose (again in your own words) what secondary, independent reliable sources say about Loke. See Your first article. S0091 (talk) 17:41, 31 July 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: This needs to be completely rewritten. S0091 (talk) 17:16, 31 July 2025 (UTC)


Justin Loke (born 1979) is a multi-disciplinary artist and curator based in Singapore.[1][2][3] He works across installation, theatre, and curatorial projects, with a practice that incorporates humour and social commentary.[4] Between 2011 and 2013, he also served as Associate Artistic Director at TheatreWorks.[5] In 2009, he received the Singapore President's Young Talents Award and the Japan Foundation Art Award.[6][7][2] He was also listed in 50 Singaporean artists You Should Know for SG50 both as a solo artist and part of the collective he co-founded.[8]

As a co-founding member of Vertical Submarine, Loke has led the collective to receive several accolades, including the Singapore Art Show Judges' Choice (2005), the Credit Suisse Artist Residency Award (2009) and a nomination for the Signature Art Prize (Asia Pacific) (2011) and won the Celeste Prize (2011) in New York.[9][10][11] In 2012, the collective participated in the Gwangju Biennale (2012).[3]

Career

[edit]

Early trajectory with Vertical Submarine

[edit]

Loke’s artistic career began in 2003 when he co-founded Vertical Submarine.[12] In 2009, the collective exhibited A View With A Room as part of the Singapore President’s Young Talents at Singapore Art Museum (SAM)’s 8Q gallery.[13] That same year, they were commissioned by Zouk, in collaboration with the Singapore Art Museum, to develop Flirting Point for ZoukOut 2009.[14] It was an interactive installation that satirically examined how flirting can be reduced to a site-specific activity carried out under instruction.[15] This installation was later re-presented in 2010.[15] During the Singapore Night Festival that year, they also presented Abusement Park, an installation that drew public attention and has continued to be referenced in accounts of the festival more than a decade later.[16][17]

In 2011, Vertical Submarine staged its first theatrical production, Dust: A Recollection, co-written and directed by Justin Loke and Joshua Yang, a member of the collective, and presented in collaboration with TheatreWorks (now T:>Works).[18] That same year, Loke and Yang also conceptualised Incendiary Texts II: Selected Anatomical Studies or Thirty-Six Eastern Vulgarities and One Incendiary Oath… In Roman Letters, which was presented at Art Stage Singapore in 2011 and later at Art HK in 2012.[19] The work featured thirty-six illustrated swear words, each incorporating anatomical references in the Hokkien dialect.[19] In 2012, Vertical Submarine also presented an installation at the 9th edition of Gwangju Biennale, titled “A Roundtable on ROUNDTABLE”. The work engaged with the biennale’s overarching theme, ‘ROUNDTABLE,’ addressing ideas of collectivity, shared narratives, and transnational dialogue. [20][21][22][23][24][25]

At Singapore Art Week 2015, the collective exhibited John Martin: The Butcher and the Surgeon at the Golden Mile Complex.[26] The work was later re-exhibited at Nunu Fine Art, which adapted its interior space for the first time to accommodate the installation.[26]

Solo debut as Justin Loke
[edit]

Following his work with Vertical Submarine, Loke began to develop a body of work as a solo artist.[27] His first solo exhibition, The Seven Scenes of Barry Lyndon, featured a series of installation-based paintings inspired by scenes from Stanley Kubrick’s 1975 period film Barry Lyndon.[27][28] The exhibition was first presented in 2015 at Objectifs – Centre for Photography and Film, and was later shown at the ArtScience Museum in Singapore and at the Saatchi Gallery in London as part of the Prudential Eye programme.[27][29][30][31] In 2016, Loke collaborated with Samuel Chen on the exhibition Monkey Business, held from 28 July to 14 August at Chan Hampe Galleries in the Raffles Hotel Arcade.[32] The exhibition was later named one of the top ten shows of 2016 by The Business Times (Singapore).[33]

Institutional validation and market recognition
[edit]

From 2016 onwards, Loke’s practice has received institutional validation through participation in global art markets as well as Singapore art-historical projects. Domesticated Violence, a sculptural work conceptualised by Loke and inspired by the writings of Argentine author Juan José Saer, was presented in 2016 as part of Vertical Submarine’s exhibition Death by a Thousand Cuts.[34][35] The work was later auctioned at Christie’s in Hong Kong.[36][37][38][39] In 2022, Loke was commissioned by the Singapore Night Festival to present a Highlight Act, resulting in The Curse of the Missing Red Shoe, a work that reimagined the history of Singapore’s Cathay Hotel.[40] Serving as writer and creative director, he designed an immersive experience in which visitors moved through rooms encountering characters from films previously screened by Cathay Studios.[41][42][43] In 2023, Loke was the curator for Benchmarks[44][45], a placemaking initiative in Singapore’s Civic District that featured a series of artist-designed benches created by six Singapore-based artists.[46][47]

In 2024, he presented 8-bit Word Cloud, a participatory installation on the Arts House Front Lawn as part of Light to Night Singapore. The work featured a poem with missing letters scattered across the Civic District, which visitors could locate and use to reconstruct the text.[1][48][49][50] Later in that year, Loke presented Leaving Room at Jakarta Art Exhibition 2024.[51][52] The installation transformed an art fair booth into a confined interior resembling both a hotel room and a prison cell.[53] The showcase was later listed among the top three booths by Plural Art Magazine.[54] In 2024, Loke also curated Creative Intersections: Traces of Dragons (2024) and subsequently, Creative Intersections: Snakes and Ladders (2025), both presented at Funan mall during Singapore Art Week.[55][56] During Singapore Design Week 2025, Loke participated as both an artist and a curator.[57] He presented Care-Full Shelter, an installation inspired by a bamboo feeding chair that invited visitors to sit, rest, and reconsider the function of chairs and communal spaces.[58] As part of the event’s programming of Care in Action, the installation was accompanied by Grandma Story in Three Seats, an interactive performance.[58] In addition to his artistic contribution, Loke curated Tran-Slate: Contemporary Design x Craft in collaboration with Heritage Singapore.[57] The inaugural edition featured a work by Saurabh Mangla, unveiled during Singapore Design Week at the National Library Board, Singapore.[57]

Literary and critical work
[edit]

Although best known as a visual artist, Loke has also worked in the field of literature, drawing influence from Spanish and Latin American writers.[59][60] In 2013, Loke translated Art as a Sharp Weapon (21 June 1940) from Chinese, a text written by Lim Hak Tai, the founding principal of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.[61]

Selected art writings[62]
[edit]

2013        The Logbook of Public Ideas Vol.II, Red Herring, The Substation, Singapore[63][64]

2012         The Logbook of Public Ideas Vol. I, Red Herring, The Substation, Singapore[65][66]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "8-bit Word Cloud". National Gallery Singapore. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  2. ^ a b "Justin Loke". Ocula Artist. 7 Sep 2025. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Justin Loke (Vertical Submarine)". Yeo Workshop. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  4. ^ "About Vertical Submarine". Four Plays: ABCD. 2013. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  5. ^ "tw03 :singapore". www.theatreworks.org.sg. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  6. ^ "President and Mrs Nathan as Guests-of- Honour at President's Young Talent 2009's Closing gala dinner cum awards presentation at Singapore Art Museum Glass Hall". National Archive Singapore. 6 Nov 2009. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "President's Young Talents 2009". Asia Art Archive. 2009. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  8. ^ Kolesnikov-Jessop, Sonia. "50 Singaporean Artist You Should Know for SH50" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Vertical Submarine". Arndt Fine Art. 7 Sep 2025. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  10. ^ "Paper Room". Roots Singapore. 7 Sep 2025. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  11. ^ "垂直潛水艇". Nunu Fine Art. 7 Sep 2025. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  12. ^ "Vertical Submarine and the Amusement of Knowledge and Illusion". ADM Gallery. 11 Jan 2022. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  13. ^ Singapore Art Museum (20 Aug 2019). "The Great Cover-Up ft. vertical submarine". Retrieved 17 Aug 2025.
  14. ^ "Flirting Point". Roots Singapore. 2009. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  15. ^ a b Singapore Art Museum. "Singapore Art Museum Presents: Flirting Point by Vertical Submarine". Singapore Art Museum. Retrieved 17 Aug 2025.
  16. ^ Ong, Sor Fern (17 Aug 2022). "Singapore Night Festival showcases Bras Basah-Bugis precinct and home-grown artists". The Straits Times. Retrieved 17 Aug 2025.
  17. ^ TheatreWorks (16 July 2010). "Night Festival : New World 2010". TheatreWorks. Retrieved 17 Aug 2025.
  18. ^ "Dust: A Recollection (2011), Review | SG Theatre Archive". www.centre42.sg. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  19. ^ a b Shetty, Deepika (8 Dec 2011). "Asian and Singapore artists will feature strongly in art fair Art Stage next year" (PDF). The Straits Times. pp. C6 – C7. Retrieved 17 Aug 2025.
  20. ^ Sutton, Kate (2012-09-17). "Nights of the Roundtable". Artforum. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  21. ^ Archive, Asia Art. "ROUNDTABLE: Gwangju Biennale 2012". aaa.org.hk. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  22. ^ "ROUNDTABLE: Gwangju Biennale 2012 - Exhibition Guide". Asia Art Archive. 2012. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  23. ^ Sabapathy, T. K.; Flores, Patrick (2023-05-12). The Modern in Southeast Asian Art: A Reader. National Gallery Singapore and NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore. ISBN 978-981-14-0664-5.
  24. ^ "Roundtable: A Journal for the 9th Gwangju Biennale, Issue One: Back to the Individual Experience". Asia Art Archive. 2012. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  25. ^ "Roundtable: A Journal for the 9th Gwangju Biennale, Issue 2: Intimacy, Authority and Anonymity within the Urban Fabric". Asia Art Archive. 2012. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  26. ^ a b Nunu Fine Art. "Vertical Submarine Space Installation "John Martin: the Butcher and the Surgeon"". NUNU Fine Art. Retrieved 17 Aug 2025.
  27. ^ a b c Quek, Bruce (3 May 2013). "Art Review: The Seven Scenes Of Barry Lyndon | 3/5". TODAY. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  28. ^ "Justin Loke: The Seven Scenes of Barry Lyndon". TimeOut. 28 Mar 2013. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  29. ^ Mayo, Martin (13 May 2013). "The artist and the collective". TODAY. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  30. ^ LuxArtAsia. "Justin Loke @ Objectifs Gallery". LuxArtAsia. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  31. ^ Marina Bay Sands. "Exhibiting Artist". Marina Bay Sands.
  32. ^ "Monkey Business". My Art Guides. 2016. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  33. ^ "The themes of this 'Monkey Business'". The Business Times. 4 Aug 2016. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  34. ^ "Vertical Submarine: Death by a Thousand Cuts". My Art Guides. 2016. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  35. ^ Lau, Yunyi (5 March 2017). "10 Essential Artist Collectives in Asia You Should Know (Part 2)". the Artling. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  36. ^ "Domesticated Violence: Chair, 2016". www.artnet.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  37. ^ "Vertical Submarine | Domesticated Violence: Chair (2016) | MutualArt". www.mutualart.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  38. ^ "First Open Live Auction 12513". www.christies.com/en. Archived from the original on 27 September 2022.
  39. ^ "VERTICAL SUBMARINE (Joshua Yang, Justin Loke, Fiona Koh, Singaporean, B. 1974, 1979, 1983)". Christie's. 2016. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  40. ^ Sng, Eunice (2022). "Local Film History is Reimagined in SNF's Cathay Hotel: The Curse of the Missing Red Shoe". danamic. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  41. ^ "Right for the site". The Straits Times. 2022-08-18. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  42. ^ "Singapore Night Festival 2022: Top 5 Art Installations @ BBB". pluralartmag.com. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  43. ^ "Review: Cathay Hotel – The Curse of the Missing Red Shoe by Vertical Submarine". Bakchormeeboy. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  44. ^ Tay, Shintaro (August 3, 2023). "Sit back and learn more about Singapore in a new Civic District art trail". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  45. ^ "About the Curator: Justin Loke". Arts in the Civic District. 7 Sep 2025. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  46. ^ "CVD - Benchmarks". Arts House Limited. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  47. ^ Yong, Nicholas (3 Aug 2023). "Artists behind the art: 6 creatives, 6 benches, 6 stories". Asia One. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  48. ^ Yong, Nicholas (19 January 2024). "Shine, Singapore: Light Art Takes Over The Lion City". Wonder Wall Singapore. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  49. ^ "Light to Night Singapore 2024: A journey of unexpected and unconventional exploration". Stir World. 2024. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  50. ^ "Annex: Textures 2024 Programme Lineup" (PDF). Arts House Group Singapore. 2024. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  51. ^ Tan, Gim Ean (25 October 2024). "The inspirational installations at Art Jakarta 2024 exemplify the heart and soul of creation". Options The Edge. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  52. ^ "Leaving Room by Justin Loke (Vertical Submarine)". A Plus Art Asia. 2024. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  53. ^ Movius, Lisa (2024-10-10). "Freewheeling Art Jakarta unphased by political protests". The Art Newspaper - International art news and events. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  54. ^ "A Fair to Remember: Our Picks from Art Jakarta 2024". pluralartmag.com. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  55. ^ "Creative Intersections: Traces of Dragons" (PDF). Capitaland. Jan 2024. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  56. ^ "Daily Cuts - Funan comes alive with Snakes, Ladders and Made in SG art". CNA. Retrieved 2025-07-30.
  57. ^ a b c "Craft x Design: Heritage Reimagined". Singapore Design Week. 2025. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  58. ^ a b "Marine Central Presents: Design for Care 11 - 21 September 2025". Marina Central Happenings. 24 Aug 2025. Retrieved 24 Aug 2025.
  59. ^ Men's Folio (29 April 2021). "#TheObsessions — Justin Loke of Independent Art Collective Vertical Submarine Shares His Favourite Things". Men's Folio. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  60. ^ "Loke, Justin, 1979-". National Library Board. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  61. ^ Say, Jeffrey; Seng, Yu Jin (2022-09-29). Intersections, Innovations, Institutions: A Reader In Singapore Modern Art. World Scientific. ISBN 978-981-12-6121-3.
  62. ^ "JUSTIN LOKE (b. 1979, Singapore)" (PDF). Yeo Workshop. May 2025. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  63. ^ "Logbook of Public Ideas 2003–2013: Volume Two". Asia Art Archive. 2013. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  64. ^ Koh, Loke, Yang, Fiona, Justin, Joshua (2013). Logbook of Public Ideas 2003–2013: Volume Two. MON.VES: Red Herring Press. ISBN 9789810764227.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  65. ^ "Logbook of Public Ideas 2003–2013: Volume one". Asia Art Archive. 2012. Retrieved 7 Sep 2025.
  66. ^ Logbook of Public Ideas 2003–2013: Volume one. MON.VES: Red Herring Press. 2012. ISBN 9789810842192.