The Battlebox at Fort Canning, a historic World War II bunker, is set to undergo a remarkable artistic transformation with the arrival of Portals, an innovative visual arts exhibition presented by Global Cultural Alliance (GCA). Running from 28 March to 29 June 2025, this immersive exhibition blends Singapore’s wartime past with cutting-edge creative technology, offering visitors an unparalleled sensory experience.
Commissioned as part of cmd.exe ("command prompt"), a groundbreaking platform by TRCL, Portals invites audiences to witness a reimagining of history through digital artistry. Seven Singapore-based artists—Anthony Chin, Dongyan Chen, Ernest Wu, Jake Tan, Huijun Lu, Victoria Hertel, and Zul Mahmod—have been selected to transform the Battlebox into a vibrant canvas, each using technology to reinterpret the bunker’s storied past. The exhibition promises an evocative journey through themes of power, surveillance, conflict, time, and the intersection of nature and defense, all within a space once pivotal in Singapore’s wartime strategies.
Since assuming management of the Battlebox in 2023, GCA has remained committed to redefining heritage narratives through innovation and engagement. "Just as the Battlebox once served as a command center in wartime, it now becomes a space where artists harness technology to challenge and transform our understanding of the past," explains Nicholas Tee, Head of Artistic Development at GCA. Portals exemplifies the ways in which creative technology can bridge generations, perspectives, and disciplines, making Singapore’s heritage more relevant to contemporary audiences.
The exhibition’s curators, Jonathan Liu (main image) and Shireen Marican, have meticulously orchestrated an experience that goes beyond traditional art displays. Visitors can expect interactive installations featuring dynamic visuals, immersive soundscapes, and sensory engagements that respond to movement and sound. Through these artistic interventions, Portals seeks to bridge history and modernity, creating a dialogue between the past and the possibilities of the future.
To push the boundaries of creativity, Portals collaborates with SERIAL CO_, a renowned creative technology studio serving as a technical mentor to the participating artists. This partnership allows for experimentation with new tools and techniques, refining the execution of each piece and elevating the exhibition’s immersive potential. Visitors will encounter reimagined wartime communication systems, responsive light installations, and thought-provoking displays that reshape historical perspectives.
Beyond the exhibition, Portals extends its reach through an engaging series of public programs running from April to June 2025. These include artist talks, hands-on workshops, and guided tours, offering deeper insights into the creative processes and historical research underpinning the installations. The exhibition launches with an electrifying opening event on 28 March, curated by Butoh artist XUE in collaboration with Mervin Wong, Jack Lim, and Josh Tirados. This multisensory performance will interact dynamically with the installations, offering a live experience that blurs the boundaries between art and audience.
On 29 March, visitors can join curators Jonathan Liu and Shireen Marican for an exclusive guided tour, delving into the artistic inspirations and technical intricacies that shape Portals. These initiatives ensure that the exhibition is not just a passive experience but an invitation to engage, reflect, and interact with Singapore’s evolving artistic landscape.
For those eager to explore this fusion of heritage and technology, more details and booking information will be available on cmdexe.art (live from 14 February) and @battleboxsg on Instagram.
‘PORTALS’
Dates: 28 March to 29 June 2025
Venue: Battlebox | Fort Canning Park, 2 Cox Terrace Singapore 179622
