Tang Contemporary Art’s Singapore gallery resumed operations on October 17, nearly ten days after its Delfi Orchard space was locked by the landlord over alleged unpaid rent. The gallery, located on the sixth floor of Delfi Orchard, was sealed on October 8, with lifts to the space also reportedly disabled.

At the reopening, the gallery presented its new exhibition, "Dyestuff: Between Visibility And Reality," a solo show by Chinese artist Leng Guangmin. The exhibition features 28 mixed media works created using a distinctive technique involving a knife to cut and scrape paint, revealing layers beneath. The show, which continues until November 7, draws its title from a scientific method of staining chromosomes.

Tang Contemporary Art has not commented publicly on the landlord’s decision to lock the premises. Gallery staff declined to provide further information regarding the closure when asked. Previously, the gallery said the temporary closure was for routine exhibition preparations and denied any operational or financial difficulties. An Instagram post from the gallery stated the Singapore branch remained "fully operational," though the post was later deleted.

Sources indicate the gallery has settled three months of rent despite disputes with the landlord. However, Swedish artist Daniel Fleur, who exhibited with Tang, told reporters he has not received $7,000 owed from the sale of one of his artworks and has been unable to reach the gallery.

Visitors to the reopening expressed understanding of the challenges faced by art businesses amid current economic conditions. Johnny Chiang, a Singaporean entrepreneur in the education sector and a long-time follower of Tang Contemporary Art, noted the difficulties businesses face with rising rents and manpower shortages, saying such pressures are widespread.

Tang Contemporary Art’s Singapore gallery occupies a 7,500-square-foot space and has been part of the local art scene for several years, representing contemporary artists from across Asia and beyond. The gallery’s recent operational disruptions highlight the broader obstacles confronting cultural spaces in a changing economic landscape.