It’s easy to get wrapped up in yourself, busy with the errands you have to run in a single day, not to mention getting to work on time, then arriving back home to your family. Stress envelops every move, from commuting to worrying about being punctual for appointments and dates.
Eleven installations at different terminals for the brand new Downtown Line 2 transit route are encouraging commuters to take a moment to breathe and enjoy art. Artwork specifically designed to be displayed in the terminals will be a treat to brighten commuters’ long days. Each piece is by a Singaporean artist, making the installations in the new transit route even more special.
For example, the stop for the Botanic Gardens will feature three separate but connected art pieces exploring the form and importance of the Tembusu tree. One of the pieces displays the tree’s branches using metal inlaid into the station wall. Another work shows birds perched in the comforting embrace of the Tembusu tree. The third piece is photographic in nature, the artist saying she wanted to evoke a sense of deja vu for busy commuters, who might not take notice of a work of art the first time it is passed, but would perhaps be drawn to a familiar form repeated over and over again. Even more special for the Tembusu tree art collection is etchings of leaves from the tree on the floor of the station, each one containing quotes from fellow Singaporean residents and artists.
The artwork is different for every station along the new transit line, of all which were made possible by a special government program meant to draw art and new creative life into the transit system. In another stop, a local artist imagines new cityscapes, inspired by a vision of Singapore hundreds of years from now. The futuristic imaginings bring delight to the passer-by, inspiring thoughts of just how Singapore’s infrastructure will transform by then. Still another station features whimsical bronze sculptures of fellow commuters, forever frozen in time on the way to their various destinations. Other displays incorporate the history of Singapore depending on the particular stop, such as artwork inspired by Indian saris or products offered at a nearby historic market for decades.
Art is a wonderful way to bring unexpected moments of levity to even the busiest of lives. If you find yourself too stressed out to enjoy your time away from the office, then perhaps it’s time to think about signing up for an art class. Art classes can be an excellent way to remove unnecessary stress from your life while developing a useful creative skill. Give personalized artistic gifts to your loved ones or even develop a side business of selling your artwork. The possibilities are endless, and who knows? You might decide you’d prefer a career in art rather than a commute to the office. See SGArtClass.com for more information on art classes you can take.
For more on the Downtown Line 2 masterpieces, go to http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/eleven-stations-on-the-downtown-line-2-feature-works-by-singapore-artists.