Incomplete Urbanism: Attempts of Critical Spatial Practice

On the occasion of the upcoming 85th birthday of eminent Singaporean architect and thinker William S. W. Lim, the Centre presents “Incomplete Urbanism: Attempts of Critical Spatial Practice“, an open-ended exhibition that serves as a laboratory of ideas, exploring the indeterminacy and changeability of urban living. Borrowing its title from Lim’s book “Incomplete Urbanism: A Critical Urban Strategy for Emerging Economies”, 2012, this multifaceted project takes his practice and the initiatives of the Asian Urban Lab that Lim started with colleagues in 2003, as a point of departure. It presents various researches into the spatial, cultural and social aspects of city life according to the publications Lim was involved with.

Acknowledging Lim’s contributions as a prolific urban theorist and catalyst of ideas, whose vision asks that we reconsider the traditions of Asian architecture for the “contemporary vernacular”, “Incomplete Urbanism“ is a direct response to his critical ideas – a space is generated to encourage participation and agency.

Lim’s key ideas will be explored by commissioned projects from several contributors, including Dr Marc Glöde (Germany/Singapore), film curator, Visiting Scholar, School of Art, Design and Media, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore; Shirley Surya (Indonesia/Hong Kong), Associate Curator for Design and Architecture, M+, Hong Kong and NTU CCA Singapore Visiting Research Fellows; Dr Etienne Turpin (Canada/Indonesia), Research Associate, Urban Risk Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, United States; and Sissel Tolaas (Norway/Germany), smell researcher and artist.

“Incomplete Urbanism“ seeks to present a dynamic space to engage urban issues, through discussions, debates, a programme on classic Singapore films, workshops and other collective efforts.