SAM has quietly moved a full art installation into Woodlands Regional Library, and here’s all you need to know about it.
“Brandon Tay: Sangkalan” is a travelling installation presented by Singapore Art Museum and the National Library Board, opening at Woodlands Regional Library from 15 April to 31 May 2026.
It then tours Tampines, Jurong and Punggol regional libraries through October 2026, with the archive expanding at each stop.
What to expect at this art pop up?
Sangkalan is a fictional island Brandon Tay has been building across sculptures, textiles and texts — an imagined “lost” culture shaped entirely by its relationship with nature. At Woodlands, you’ll meet the island through three invented organisms: a fruit (Zauran), an insect (Selatri) and a bird (Ta’lur). Each one carries a slice of the island’s knowledge, which Tay compares to how blockchain distributes information — no central library, just a network of living records.
The textiles are doing heavy lifting here. Rather than written language, Sangkalan’s history is encoded in colour, geometry and repeating pattern. It’s the kind of work that rewards a slow walk-through; the longer you look, the more the system reveals itself. Woodlands is the first stop on the tour, which means you’re seeing the exhibition in its earliest form before the archive grows at the next venue.
Why it’s worth going?
This is the quietest way to catch one of SAM’s 30th-anniversary year programmes. Also Woodlands is the first stop, which means you’re getting the installation before the rest of the island hears about it. If you’ve been meaning to visit one of the regional libraries anyway, pair the trip with lunch at Causeway Point — or maybe even head up to Johor Bahru.
FAQ
- Is Brandon Tay: Sangkalan free?
Yes, admission is free. You don’t need a library membership to view the installation either. - Do I need to book a ticket?
No booking required — just walk in during Woodlands Regional Library’s normal opening hours of 10am to 9pm daily. - Will the exhibition travel to other libraries?
Yes. After Woodlands it tours Tampines (3 June–19 July), Jurong (22 July–6 September), and Punggol (9 September–25 October 2026). Each stop adds another organism to the archive.
Date: 15 April–31 May 2026 (Woodlands Regional Library)
Location: Woodlands Regional Library, 900 South Woodlands Drive, #01-03 Woodlands Civic Centre, Singapore 730900
Opening hours: 10am-9pm daily
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