Until this month’s opening of National Gallery Singapore, there was no dedicated gallery in the entire nation that was devoted to showcasing Singaporean artwork and masterpieces from the surrounding Southeast Asian region. But with the inauguration of this brand new art space, Singapore has perhaps the foremost historical and meaningful facility to do so.
National Gallery Singapore is a unique mating of two of Singapore’s most important historical buildings, the City Hall and the Supreme Court. Both buildings have been painstakingly preserved and incorporated into one enormous gallery space. Many architectural considerations were taken into account, including expanding and reinforcing the buildings’ foundations to allow for parking and visitor access. Both classical and contemporary Singaporean and Southeast Asian art will be viewed in context of the historically rich buildings, with original features like holding cells for people on trial in the Supreme Court and portions of City Hall, in which Japan surrendered to Allied Forces following World War II, restored to their original luster.
The director of National Gallery Singapore says that the displays are meant to inspire visitors both native to the nation and region and tourists alike. The museum is cultivating educational partnerships with schools in the area to help cull the budding artistic talent present into something a force to be reckoned with.
Already, thousands have visited National Gallery Singapore as a part of the museum’s opening and in conjunction with art festivals held to draw more visitors. Even though some of the art pieces were painted decades ago, they’re still topical to today. One such piece, a large, vivid treatment of a forest fire, is reflective of a plague of smoggy haze in Singapore from nearby fires raging in Indonesia.
The broad inclusion of artworks from around the Southeast Asian region is an effort to show the many connections between the area and the broader world, the director of National Gallery Singapore said. The collection will be viewed alongside guest shows, installations made just for the display space, and other upcoming works. National Gallery Singapore aims to be a renowned destination for up and coming Singapore artists as well as artists traveling from around the globe. The museum will even be responsible for curating and organizing shows that will travel abroad, such as an April showing in Paris.
Celebrate the opening of National Gallery Singapore by getting artistic. SGArtClass.com offers a comprehensive listing of all kinds of art classes, suited to all creative tastes. It’s easy to browse our various art topics and connect with expert teachers ready to adapt to your art needs and schedule. We want to work with you, developing curriculum and lessons that are convenient to your lifestyle and work commitments. There’s always time to learn something new, and taking art classes can help develop your creative problem solving skills, your confidence, your teamwork, and much more. Sign up for an art class today.
For more about National Gallery Singapore, go to http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/25/arts/national-gallery-singapore/.