Art Meets Microscopy, The Weight of Light

Founded in 2004 by Yeo Shih Yun, INSTINC is an artist-run institution based in Singapore. INSTINC has been an active player in the arts ecology through their exhibition programming and curation, as well as through community engagement through their workshops and artists’  talks. They continue to build upon regional and international ties through their long-running residency program. The vision for INSTINC is one of collaboration and connection, producing immersive large-scale projects that cross the genres of installation, new media, performance, painting and sculpture, partnering with brands such as Volvo and Guinness in the past.

INSTINC Art space

Artist Talk by Julie Stoneman with Guest Presentation by Lin Yangchen

INSTINC Space

Venue: INSTINC Space, 39 Keppel Rd, #03-10 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, Singapore 089065Exhibition Duration: 23 April to 29 April 2026 | Mon-Fri, 1PM-7PM. Sat - Sun, 1PM-6PMOpening Reception: 22 April 2026 (Wed.), 5:30PM–8:30PMArtist Talk: 25 April 2026 (Sat), 3-4PM

As part of The Weight of Light, Art Meets Microscopy brings together artist Julie Stoneman and microscopy specialist Yangchen from the Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, NUS, for a unique conversation between art and science. Following Julie’s artist talk, Yangchen will present striking micrographs of Singapore rocks, sharing insights into thin-section preparation, mineral structures, and the hidden colours and patterns revealed under the microscope. Together, the session offers a rare glimpse into how microscopic geological worlds can inspire contemporary artistic practice.About ExhibitionGranite is at the centre of Julie Stoneman’s sustained enquiry into complex, chaotic systems of deep geological time. Found across the globe, vast granite batholiths connect landforms and countries, forming deep structures that underpin the Earth’s surface. Used historically in sculpture and architecture for its durability and crystalline beauty, granite becomes in Julie’s work both material and metaphor for an elemental connector between cultures and geologies.Her research moves into the microscopic realm of geological micrographs and thin rock sections revealed through polarized light. Within these images, mineral structures appear as an “ordered chaos”: a liminal field of refracted colour and light where geological time is compressed into intricate, shifting formations. Julie’s painting practice responds to this hidden complexity through layered processes of mark-making that echo crystalline growth over immense spans of time. The works unfold as accumulations of fine, sediment-like layers, suggesting both fragility and density.During her residency in Singapore with INSTINC, Julie gathered fragments of local granite encountered across the city. A key point of reference is the Bukit Gombak granite micrographs photographed by Lin Yangchen at the Centre for Bioimaging Sciences, NUS. These were held, observed, and arranged into precarious studio assemblages, which informed painterly compositions shaped by balance, tension, and material intuition. Through gestural works on paper made with improvised tools and layered acrylic, Julie explores what she describes as a form of “geo-choreography”—the movement of Earth’s landmasses across billions of years rendered as rhythm, force, and disruption. This approach extends into large ink works, where fluid, thrown gestures evoke the scale and volatility of geological transformation.Across the exhibition, Julie positions granite as both subject and system; an encounter with deep time that reveals geology as an interconnected, living complexity in which human materiality is also embedded. A reminder that we are made of the same deep matter we seek to understand.About ArtistJulie Stoneman is a visual artist with extensive experience across exhibitions and public art. Her evocative painting practice focuses on uncovering hidden visual dynamics within geological formations, drawing attention to the often unseen structures that shape our natural world.Her most recent exhibition, Geo-Microcosms (2025, Moonah Arts Centre, Tasmania), was inspired by microscopic ‘thin section’ images of granite photographed under polarised light. Imbued with vibrating energy, granite refracts light through its layered crystals, producing vivid hues scientifically referred to by geologists as Interference Colours.Julie’s contemporary paintings amplify these vibrant mineral colours and crystalline forms, transforming scientific imagery into immersive visual experiences. Her works invite viewers into micro worlds of structured chaos, where bright, translucent layers appear as floating, irregular forms against deep black backgrounds, echoing the view through a microscope.Widely exhibited and collected, Julie’s work continues to captivate audiences through its unique intersection of art, science, and perception. About INSTINC SpaceFounded in 2004 by artist Yeo Shih Yun, INSTINC is a leading artist-run institution based in Singapore. With a distinguished presence in the arts ecosystem, INSTINC diligently sustains the growth of contemporary art through exhibitions, residency programs and curations. Their esteemed Artist-in-Residence program has cultivated invaluable regional and international networks since 2009. INSTINC is celebrated for producing immersive, large-scale exhibitions that encompass installation, new media, performance, painting and sculpture, showcasing the diverse range of artistic expressions.Notable collaborations include partnerships with renowned brands such as Volvo and Guinness, further demonstrating INSTINC's commitment to fostering cross-disciplinary exchanges. Moreover, INSTINC takes immense pride in organising the highly anticipated INSTINC D:Art Festival 2022, generously supported by UOB Bank and the NAC start fund.INSTINC continues to foster creative individuals and collective practitioners by establishing a platform for cross-disciplinary exchanges with their relocation in Tanjong Pagar Distripark. With expertise in exhibition curation, commissioned works and brand alliances, INSTINC endeavours as a vital presence in the cultivation of contemporary art.

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Art Meets Microscopy, The Weight of Light

More events from INSTINC Art space

Discover more events from INSTINC Art space, from Arts to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Singapore and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Art Meets Microscopy, The Weight of Light

More events from INSTINC Art space

Discover more events from INSTINC Art space, from Arts to other experiences you might love.

More Arts events

Browse more Arts events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Singapore and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.