Plastique Kinetic Worms

Plastique Kinetic Worms (PKW) was a Singapore-based artist-run space and contemporary art collective, co-founded in 1998 by Singaporean artists Vincent Leow and Yvonne Lee.

[2][3] In his 2002 book, On the Mid-ground, international curator Hou Hanru would describe PKW as "the very centre of experimental activities of a new generation", a leading space for contemporary art in Singapore at that moment.

[4] PKW was known for its broad aims to support contemporary art in Singapore, from providing opportunities for international collaborations to serving as a platform for younger Singapore-based practitioners.

[5][8][9][10][11][1] PKW notably received a considerable amount of state recognition, a consistent recipient of major grant support from Singapore's National Arts Council.

[12] Consisting of a series of five exhibitions, the shows were held at 68 Pagoda Street, taking the 1,400 sq ft ground floor of a newly renovated, three-storey pre-war Chinatown shophouse.

[12] Following the three-month exhibition project, Leow and Lee had further plans to keep the site and convert it into an art space, seeking patrons and sponsorships to cover rent, which was now offered to them at a reduced rate.

[12] Alongside a grant from the National Arts Council, they would also organise a fundraising exhibition, 500 & Below, which featured prints, paintings, photographs and sculptures by 16 local and foreign artists.

[1][8] In 1999, PKW registered as a non-profit organisation, a status that enabled the group to be eligible for National Arts Council grants, as well as participation in officially funded events.