Forget the standard white-walled galleries. From 23rd January to 19th April 2026, the ArtScience Museum (ASM) is transforming its halls into a futuristic “rehab centre” – not for humans, but for self-driving cars.
Whether you’re a sci-fi geek, a gaming fan, or just someone looking for the next interesting weekend activity, here’s everything you need to know about NOX: Confessions of a Machine.
Image credit: Lawrence Lek and Sadie Coles HQ, London
Imagine a future where your Grab car has feelings. In the world of NOX, which stands for Nonhuman Excellence, autonomous vehicles aren’t just tools; they have personalities. But when these AI cars start getting “emotional” or disobeying orders, they get sent to a facility run by the Farsight Corporation to be “fixed.”
Image credit: Marina Bay Sands
The exhibition is the brainchild of Lawrence Lek, a visionary artist who builds movie worlds you can walk through. You’ll follow the story of Enigma-76, a self-driving delivery vehicle that’s struggling to balance its cold logic with human-like desires.
The heart of the exhibition is a vehicle charging station set within a futuristic urban landscape. It’s gritty, cinematic, and looks like it was pulled straight out of a sci-fi thriller.
Image credit: Marina Bay Sands
If you’ve ever felt like museums were too “don’t touch the art,” you’ll love this. NOX is packed with interactive elements:
Image credit: Marina Bay Sands
One of the most unique parts of the journey involves Dakota, a therapy horse. In the machine’s final therapy session, the exhibition draws a parallel between the animals that used to power our world and the AI that does it today. It’s a quiet, emotional moment that asks: if we replaced horses with machines, what happens when we replace ourselves?
If Lawrence Lek’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s a massive deal in the tech-art world. Recently named by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in AI, the London-based artist, who has roots in Singapore and Malaysia, is known for his genre-bending work.
Image credit: Nishant Shukla
He’s essentially the director of his own cinematic universe, where all his games and films are interconnected. Think of him as the Christopher Nolan of digital art; he’s here to make you question what’s real and why your future electric vehicle might need a hug.
Pro tip: If you’re visiting on the opening weekend, don’t miss Between Code and Consciousness on 24th January. It’s a live talk by Lawrence Lek himself at the ArtScience Cinema, where he spills the secrets on how he built this digital universe.
Image credit: Marina Bay Sands
Lek is famous for a concept called Sinofuturism. In simple terms, it’s a way of looking at the future through an Asian lens. It takes common stereotypes about Asia, like high-tech cities and a love for gaming, and turns them into a cool science-fiction world. It’s about seeing how “smart cities” like Singapore might evolve into something even more complex.
Image credit: Lawrence Lek and Sadie Coles HQ, London
Yes! While the themes are deep, the interactive game stations and futuristic car vibes are super engaging for kids. Just remember that children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult.
Expect to spend about 60 to 90 minutes if you want to fully immerse yourself in the game simulations and listen to the audio logs.
Spot on. NOX: Confessions of a Machine is one of the flagship programs for Singapore Art Week 2026, so it’s the perfect time to do an art crawl around the Marina Bay area.
Image credit: Marina Bay Sands
Not really. The gaming elements are designed to be intuitive. Even if the only game you’ve played is Candy Crush, you’ll find the interactive parts easy and fun to navigate.
Whether you’re a hardcore gamer or just curious about how AI is changing our lives, NOX: Confessions of a Machine is set to be one of the most talked-about spots in 2026. It’s a rare chance to step inside a “living” sci-fi movie and decide for yourself where the line between humans and machines actually lies. So, mark your calendars for January—it’s time to see if you have what it takes to be a therapist for a sentient car.
Admission: From $13/adult | $10/child
Venue: ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands
Dates: 23rd January to 19th April 2026
Opening hours: Sun-Thu 10am-7pm | Fri-Sat 10am-9pm
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Cover image adapted from: Marina Bay Sands, Lawrence Lek and Sadie Coles HQ, London
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