Sculpting Her World: The Art of Dora Gordine

In celebration of the International Women’s Day, we invite you to reflect on female agency and the enduring legacies of women who have shaped the discourse of art history.

This afternoon’s programme centers on the life and legacy of artist Dora Gordine who was based in Singapore in the 1930s. Once hailed as “very possibly becoming the finest woman sculptor in the world”, Gordine excelled in painting, drawing and sculpture. She received major commissions, including sculptures for the Municipal Building (now part of National Gallery Singapore). Despite her achievements, she remained relatively unknown at the time of her death.

Who was Dora Gordine and how might we understand her works today? Featuring the screening of two short films—Annaleena Piel Linnå’s Dorich and Erika Tan’s Speculative Entanglements—alongside a sharing by Dr Fiona Fisher (Curator, Dorich House Museum), this programme will delve into Gordine’s life and extensive travels across Europe and Southeast Asia, tracing her practice and the contemporary implications of her works.

The programme will conclude with a conversation between artist Erika Tan and Dr Fiona Fisher, moderated by Dr Adele Tan (Senior Curator and Assistant Director, Curatorial Programmes, National Gallery Singapore). Light refreshments will be provided after the programme.