Gajah Gallery Presents: 'Heresy or Codswallop', A Solo Exhibition by Ashley Bickerton

From 20 January to 14 February 2021, Gajah Gallery will be presenting 'Heresy or Codswallop', the second solo exhibition in Singapore for the internationally acclaimed artist, Ashley Bickerton. Gajah Gallery will also be hosting a Webinar on 28 January from 5-6pm where art historian Gregory Galligan and Ashley Bickerton will discuss the works presented in the show. The conversation will also explore the ideas and process behind Bickerton's diverse body of work, and his position in the context of contemporary Southeast Asian art.

Presented in conjunction with Singapore Art Week 2021, 'Heresy or Codswallop' is one of Bickerton's most comprehensive surveys of his work to date that brings together the last decade of his practice. This exhibition will showcase Bickerton’s work in a new light: despite his American origins, his work is rewritten here as wholly Southeast Asian. 

In 1993, Bickerton left New York for Bali, Indonesia, where he lives and works to this day. Since his move, Bickerton has observed and experienced radical changes on the island, witnessing the dilution and transformation of a remote culture to an international tourist hotspot. His work explores the fantasy of a tropical island paradise, and its reality as a de-cultured touristic locale that has been reconstructed to feed the westernised paradise ideal. Bickerton's work is ever evolving, with a practice that transcends the label of any one art movement, presenting a complex and multifaceted picture that defines our time.

"If any audience is truly interested in following they have to take my entire trajectory into account. Individual moments are not the most interesting part; it’s the overarching hunger and restlessness of the journey, and if one zooms out far enough, the constant patterns that have been there throughout begin to emerge and reveal themselves." - Ashley Bickerton

About the Gallery

Since 1996, Gajah Gallery has been a pioneering body in the Southeast Asian arts scene, representing a portfolio of the region’s leading artists as well as engaging the brightest emerging talents in contemporary art today. From humble beginnings in Singapore at Monk’s Hill, the Gallery has since expanded to a huge, beautifully designed industrial warehouse space in Tanjong Pagar, and opened a second exhibition house in the thriving arts city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Both exhibition spaces are fuelled with a unique atmosphere, that invites an interplay of contemporary aesthetics and critical discourse.

Gajah Gallery remains dedicated to promoting artists from the region and highlighting their international relevance. Over the years the gallery has built a legacy of initiatives such as re-invigorating academic contributions to the category of Indonesian art and history, creating landmark shows such as Lokanat: Ground Zero which travelled to Yangon, Intersections: Latin American and Southeast Asian Contemporary Art which travelled to Havana, Cuba and the founding of art institute Yogya Art Lab (YAL). Through significant collaborations with Singapore Art Museum (SAM), National University of Singapore Museum, and hosting at least five spectacular exhibitions each year, Gajah Gallery cements its commitment to supporting leading artists and nurturing emerging international talent, ensuring our content is as compelling as our curatorial concepts.

Exhibition Dates: 20 January - 14 February 2021
Address: 39 Keppel Rd, Tanjong Pagar Distripark, #03-04, Singapore 089065
Opening Times: 
Mon - Fri: 11am - 7pm
Weekends & Public Holidays: 12 - 6pm

Ashley Bickerton in conversation with Gregory Galligan Webinar
Click here to register for the Ashley Bickerton in conversation with Gregory Galligan Webinar