Say bonjour to your next cultural obsession. From now until August 17, National Gallery Singapore’s transforms its third floor exhibition spaces into a vibrant time capsule with City of Others: Asian Artists in Paris, 1920s–1940s – a groundbreaking showcase that uncovers the lesser-known stories of Asian artists who lived, worked, and created in the French capital during one of the most exhilarating eras in modern art history. Think Art Deco, avant-garde ideals, and a melting pot of global influences. 

While the City of Light shone as the epicentre of modernity, it was also the seat of a colonial empire, which had complex and troubling implications for artists from the colonies. This exhibition brings those tensions to light, tracing how these creatives carved space for themselves in a scene that both embraced and marginalised them. 

Featuring the works and lives of visionaries like Georgette Chen and Liu Kang before they migrated to Singapore, Japan’s Foujita Tsuguharu, Vietnam’s Lê Phổ, China’s Sanyu, and more, City of Others is a powerful exploration of identity, belonging, cultural exchange, and resilience. It’s bold, eye-opening, and beautifully human – a reminder that art has always been more than just what’s on the canvas. 

Here’s why this is the exhibition you won’t want to miss.