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For a long time, Singapore was the focus of Southeast Asian money and business. Recently, however, it has also become a magnet for art. With its rich cultural tapestry that includes Chinese, Malay, and Indian influences, Singapore is quickly becoming a major player in the global art scene as a repository for regional treasures.
When talking about art festivals in Singapore, we have to mention Art SG. Art SG, Singapore's premier international art festival, brings together prestigious galleries, collectors, and art enthusiasts from all over the globe, and the 2015 inauguration of National Gallery Singapore has contributed to the country's burgeoning art scene's upward trajectory in the last decade. International galleries such as Whitestone of Japan and WOAW of Hong Kong have set up shop at the boutique expo SEA Focus, which has been steadily expanding its influence as a platform for art in the area. Private art venues and shows have been set up by local collectors, while new entrants with unique viewpoints, like the interdisciplinary incubator Supper House and the online marketplace Art Again, are stepping in to fill the need.
One of the best ways to spend a day in a strange city is to wander the halls and galleries of a well-curated museum. Fortunately for tourists, Singapore is brimming with world-class museums housing both established and emerging art forms, as well as popular and unusual exhibits. The Lion City is home to museums that will captivate visitors with a wide range of interests, including modern art, military history, rare stamps, and nostalgic toys. Here are our top picks for the best art museums in Singapore!
Ode to Art
Hidden away in the bustling Raffles resort/shopping complex is this glitzy public gallery with Singaporean and Malaysian origins. In addition to works by internationally renowned artists like Fernando Botero, Takashi Murakami, Tadao Ando, Mauro Perucchetti, Ieo Gek Ching, and Chen Wen Ling, among many others, the exhibition also features a diverse range of pieces by emerging artists from the area. Contemporary art admirers in Singapore or Southeast Asia are sure to discover a new favourite artist.
Art and Science Museum, Singapore
Aesthetically pleasing in its lotus form, the ArtScience Museum investigates how art, design, technology, and architecture all interact with one another. This fascinating organisation, headed by curator Honour Hagar of New Zealand, uses its exhibits to speculate on potential futures, whether those possibilities include space travel, particle physics, or big data. Over the last thirteen years, the museum has included monumental artworks by artists such as Dali, Warhol, MC Escher, and Leonardo da Vinci. Visually stunning and engrossing, the permanent show by the Japanese art group TeamLab is not to be missed.
National Museum of Singapore
One of the most popular things to do in Singapore is to visit the National Museum, which is both the oldest and biggest museum in the country. Since its initial construction in 1887, the neo-Palladian dome by colonial engineer Henry E. McCallum has stood as a prominent landmark in the area. Particularly striking is the glass rotunda, one of the many stunning architectural features. The collection devotes a considerable portion to Singaporean history, including the transformation of the country from a royal colony of the British to an independent republic.
Gajah Gallery
Among the earliest art spaces to set up shop at Tanjong Pagar Distripark was Gajah. With the same innovative spirit, it has been a champion of Southeast Asian art for almost 30 years, including works by renowned artists from the area such as Yunizar, Jane Lee, and I Gusti Ayu Kadek Murniasih. The Yogyakarta foundry is Gajah's unique selling point; it's a place where artists are encouraged to try working with unconventional materials like bronze and aluminium. The Singaporean gallery often acquires these pieces, many of which have an oversized appearance.
Artcommune
Just a short stroll away from the Peranakan Museum is Artcommune, a gallery that showcases the works of groundbreaking Singaporean painters such Ong Kim Seng, Cheong Soo Pieng, and Chen Wen Hsi. Artist Ho Sou Ping established it in 2009, and since then, it has taken on a mission beyond that of a conventional gallery by supporting art education in Singapore. Their regular seminars for art lovers and young collectors bring this to life by delving into the work of local artists, discussing different art genres, and tracing different paths via art collecting.
Cuturi
Kevin Cuturi is a significant figure in the new wave of young Singaporean painters who have emerged in the last few years. His namesake gallery in Kampong Gelam hosts artists from the surrounding area in residence programs and travels to big places like Paris and Los Angeles to showcase their work. Cuturi is associated with many famous people, such as Faris Heizer, Aisha Rosli, and Casey Tan. This cultural institution showcases the country's enormous creative potential.
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Appetite
Instead of the standard white box, Appetite has created a relaxed gallery space that deftly incorporates a record music lounge and a research and development kitchen. Appetite, the creation of Michelin-starred chef Ivan Brehm (who also runs sister restaurant Nouri), has developed into a hybrid art venue from its humble beginnings as a research lab for his multifaceted approach to food. The exhibitions at Appetite rotate every three months and showcase the work of both well-known and up-and-coming artists. Some of the pieces on display have never been seen in Singapore before, such the posthumous solo exhibition of American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.