Since the late 1980s, Singaporean artist Amanda Heng Liang Ngim has invited the public to participate in unusual performances.

In Singapore, Tokyo and Paris, people have joined her in walking barefoot backwards through the city streets with high-heeled shoes stuffed in their mouths to protest unfair beauty standards. In other instances, they have joined Heng for more intimate gatherings, where they help her peel raw bean sprouts and chat over tea.

“Today you call that community building, but for me it’s part of my way of life – doing things together with others. You’re not alone in this environment,” says the 74-year-old artist, who was raised in a kampong (village) in post-war Singapore. “That’s how I grew up, so it is very natural for me to tap into my learning and memories.”

In May, Heng will bring a similar ethos to the 2026 Venice Biennale, where she will represent Singapore.

Her presentation, A Pause, will transform the Singapore Pavilion into a communal space for rest and reflection. Continuing her practice of creating unscripted social encounters, she invites visitors to slow down and take respite, and inhabit the space as part of an ongoing live performance.