Singapore Art Museum (SAM) presents Hiroshi Sugimoto : Form Is Emptiness, the first major survey exhibition in Southeast Asia by internationally acclaimed artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Opening from 29 May to 4 October 2026, the exhibition brings together over 60 works across 11 series spanning over five decades of practice, alongside 14 fossil specimens from the artist’s personal collection. Presented in Singapore at this scale for the first time, the exhibition reflects SAM’s commitment to researching, engaging with and presenting leading contemporary artists, as exemplified by Sugimoto’s sustained inquiries into time, perception, spirituality and human consciousness through photography, sculpture, multi-media installation and spatial design.
At its core, the exhibition draws from the Heart Sutra, a foundational Buddhist text, and its proposition that “form is emptiness.” This suggests that what appears fixed or tangible is contingent, shaped by conditions and perception rather than inherent permanence. This tension between appearance and reality underpins Sugimoto’s practice, which considers how meaning is constructed through ways of seeing.
Eugene Tan, Chief Executive Officer and Director of SAM, said, “Hiroshi Sugimoto is one of the most influential artists of our time, whose work has continually redefined the boundaries of image- making and perception. We are delighted to present his works in Southeast Asia at this scale for the first time. Form Is Emptiness brings together key bodies of work across five decades, from early photographic series to more recent explorations that extend beyond the camera. His practice continues to shape how we understand the art of our time, moving between image, object, and space, and inviting close and sustained engagement.”
Designed by Sugimoto, the exhibition unfolds as a mandala, a circular, geometric form representing the universe in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Visitors move through branching and interconnected paths, forming their own sequences and associations.
A new exhibition catalogue and short guide will accompany Hiroshi Sugimoto: Form Is Emptiness, offering deeper insights into his practice and this major presentation at SAM. A series of public programmes will also accompany the exhibition, including an artist talk on 29 May 2026 at 7pm, where Sugimoto will share his ideas and process, as well as a performance by artist Ken Ikeda at The Engine Room at SAM. Additional programmes, including guided tours and participatory workshops, provide further points of engagement with the exhibition and its themes.
Hiroshi Sugimoto: Form Is Emptiness runs from 29 May to 4 October 2026 at SAM at Tanjong Pagar Distripark. Tickets are priced at $20 ($15 for Singapore Residents and Permanent Residents). Admission is free for children aged 6 and below, local/locally based students and teachers, persons with disabilities (PWD) and their caregivers. More information on the exhibition is available at https://bit.ly/SAMHiroshiSugimoto.
