Singapore Biennale
2019

A joint contribution to the Singapore Biennale 2019 by Liza Fior from muf architecture/art and Axel. Exhibited in the Asian Civilisations Museum, the space overlooks the luxury housing of Marina Bay Sands owned by an international financial elite as investment properties. As such, a large proportion of the apartments remain empty throughout most of the year. Drawing a link between Singapore and London where affordable housing is urgently needed, the installation reflects upon the notion of home and the housing market. To uncover the inherent tension it orients a bench with the title ‘Absentee Landlords’ towards Marina Bay Sands. Styled as a fake luxury estate entrance sign, the bench invites visitors to sit down and contemplate the view, as well as watch a documentary film made by Collage Arts in Wood Green, London.
Labels for the cushions have been printed using a – typically empty – sofa from estate agents’ floorplans.

With muf architecture/art and Collage Arts
singaporebiennale.org/art/muf-architecture-art