O C T– D EC 2021
ADVISORY ON COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019) The safety and well-being of our visitors and staff continue to remain our top priority. •
Necessary precautionary measures such as wearing masks, contact tracing and safe distancing are in place.
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The Gallery, together with its F&B establishments, has been certified SG Clean.
Given the constantly changing COVID-19 situation, please visit nationalgallery.sg for the latest updates on tours, events and programmes (including talks and lectures, workshops and courses, children's and family activities at the Keppel Centre for Art Education, performances and film screenings). Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we keep the Gallery safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Nam June Paik. John Cage Robot II. 1995. Vintage wood television cabinets, colour television receivers, DVD players, multi-channel video, piano keys, piano hammers, piano wire, acrylic paint, basket, books, wood mushrooms and chessmen. 274.3 × 203.2 × 78.7 cm. Collection of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2011.17. Photography by Edward C. Robison III. Facing page (top to bottom): Nam June Paik. TV Garden. 1974-7, remade 2002. Live plants, cathode-ray tube televisions and video, colour, sound. Lent by the Kunstsammlung Nordrhein Westfalen, Dusseldorf. Chua Mia Tee. Portable Cinema. 1977. Oil on canvas. 78.5 × 79.4 cm. Gift of Times Publishing Limited. You Khin. Untitled (Doha Scene: Pakistani Bakers). 1990. Oil on canvas, 65 × 100 cm. Recent acquisition. Image from Gallery Children's Biennale 2021: Why Art Matters. Copyright in the content in this brochure may also reside in persons and entities other than, and in addition to the Gallery. The Gallery seeks to share our artworks with as many people as we can. We are fully committed to respecting the intellectual property rights of others and always use our best efforts to obtain permission for artwork images used. Please contact us should you have any queries about this. Unless otherwise mentioned, all artwork images have been provided through the courtesy of National Heritage Board and artworks featured are National Gallery Singapore collection. The Gallery Guide is published by National Gallery Singapore. All rights reserved. Materials in this publication may not be reproduced in part or in whole without written consent of the Gallery. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information within this brochure. However, changes are sometimes unavoidable and the Gallery reserves the right to make modifications to the programmes and ticketing policy without prior notice. Please visit www.nationalgallery.sg for the most updated information. The views and opinions expressed by speakers, facilitators and docents at the workshops and tours do not necessarily represent the position of the Gallery. Published in Sep 2021. All information is correct at time of print.
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OCT–DEC 2021 2
About the Gallery
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Director’s Message
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Art We Love
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Highlights Calendar
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National Gallery Singapore Turns 5
Exhibitions
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10 Special Exhibitions 18 Long-Term Exhibitions 24
Special Programmes Tours
26 Gallery Tours 28 Performances 30 Talks and Workshops 31 Rotunda Library & Archive
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Kids & Schools
32 Keppel Centre for Art Education 36 Shopping & Dining 38 Gallery Publications 40 Ticketing Information 42 General Information 44 Support the Gallery
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Visit Us
ABOUT THE
GALLERY
U N V E I LI N G M O D E R N S I N G A P O R E A N D SOU TH E A S T A S I A N A R T National Gallery Singapore is a leading visual arts institution overseeing the largest public collection of modern art of Singapore and Southeast Asia. Situated at the birthplace of modern Singapore, in the heart of the Civic District, the Gallery is housed in two national monuments—City Hall and former Supreme Court—that have been beautifully restored and transformed into this exciting 64,000 square metre venue. Reflecting Singapore’s unique heritage and geographical location, the Gallery aims to be a progressive museum that creates dialogues between the art of Singapore, Southeast Asia and the world to foster and inspire a creative and inclusive society. This is reflected in our collaborative research, education initiatives, long-term and special exhibitions, and innovative programming.
BOARD MEMBERS Peter Ho (Chairman) Chang Hwee Nee Chew Choon Seng Chong Siak Ching Jennie Chua Rosa Daniel Goh Kok Huat Maimoonah Hussain Shareen Khattar Panote Sirivadhanabhakdi Doris Sohmen-Pao Professor Tan Chorh Chuan Whang Shang Ying Danny Yong
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FINALIST FOR OUTSTANDING ATTRACTION EXPERIENCE
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
Dear friends, As 2021 draws to a close, the Gallery is abuzz. In October, we launch a new experimental project space within the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery, the first of its kind within the museum. Dalam Southeast Asia will present projects that provoke critical questions and explore lesser-known artists and narratives in Southeast Asian art, marking a significant turning point in the Gallery’s curatorial efforts to display, acquire and stimulate public dialogues confronting the modern art of Southeast Asia. The first exhibition in this space is The Tailors and the Mannequins: Chen Cheng Mei and You Khin, a focused study on two artistic outliers from Singapore and Cambodia respectively, and their travels in the Global South from the 1970s to 2000s. Though they were born two decades apart and unacquainted, the exhibition brings them together to showcase the similarities in their journeys, interests, and perspectives. Come November, we invite families and children to discover the on-site edition of the Gallery Children’s Biennale during the year-end holidays. Following the festival’s online iteration in May, immersive art installations at the Gallery will explore the same theme of “Why Art Matters,” engaging with urgent issues of the environment, diversity, and home. Later that month, visitors can look forward to a solo exhibition on Chua Mia Tee, a Cultural Medallion recipient and arguably Singapore’s most recognisable realist painter. Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real will explore the period of his career between the 1950s and 1980s, shining a light on a time of transformative growth for both the artist and a post-war Singapore. To end the year on a high note, we are very proud to present Nam June Paik: The Future is Now. This exhibition is not only our biggest of 2021, but will also be the first major retrospective of renowned artist Nam June Paik in Southeast Asia. A key figure in the 20th century avant-garde, Paik was a key figure in the Fluxus movement and widely considered the founder of video art. This playful, electrifying and immersive exhibition surveys over five decades of his pioneering work, which we hope will inspire audiences to reflect upon their own relationships with technology, as well as the intersection of technology with other areas like nature, music and religion. Our busy calendar this year end promises something for everyone, and we look forward to seeing you at the Gallery. In the meantime, I wish all of you a wonderful, safe, and healthy festive season.
Eugene Tan Director, National Gallery Singapore 3
ART WE LOVE
You Khin Untitled (The Tailors and the Mannequins) 1981 Oil on canvas 83 × 60 cm
This painting was made while the artist You Khin lived and worked in Ivory Coast in West Africa. Born in Cambodia, You Khin lived in Africa and the Middle East from the 1970s to the 2000s, and was even a refugee and a stateless person for a period of time. Like many of his artworks, this painting is a frank portrayal of You Khin’s encounters with people and cultures in a place unfamiliar to him. Dalam Southeast Asia is an experimental project space located within the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery. Projects presented here ask critical questions and explore lesser-known narratives in Southeast Asian art, while rethinking what a collections-based display is and what it may seek to achieve. On display at Dalam Southeast Asia in the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery. The Tailors and the Mannequins: Chen Cheng Mei and You Khin.
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#GALLERYANYWHERE www.nationalgallery.sg/galleryanywhere The Gallery offers a wide range of art experiences both in physical spaces and on #GalleryAnywhere, a one-stop portal to rich digital content and an array of virtual explorations that will keep you engaged and entertained wherever you are. Browse, watch, listen, or play to discover the Gallery’s myriad offerings. STORIES IN LIGHT: FOUR MODERN PHOTOGRAPHERS IN SINGAPORE The Gallery's first virtual-only exhibition Explore how photography provided a platform for artists to imagine a new Singapore landscape and identity after World War II.
Featured Artists: Lee Sow Lim (b. 1930, Malaysia): Lee Sow Lim is celebrated for his contributions to photography as an artist, presenter, writer and educator. He was the first and only photographer to receive the Public Service Medal in 1978, and later chaired the photography selection panel for the Cultural Medallion, Singapore’s annual award for artistic achievement. Lee Lim (b. 1931, China; d. 1989, Singapore): Lee Lim is one of the most important and influential modern photographers in Singapore. He is particularly admired for his flawless technique in composite photography. Lee continued to experiment and innovate throughout his life. His final body of work features abstract images which appear to be landscapes, but are actually the distressed exterior walls of old buildings. Lim Kwong Ling (b. 1932, Singapore): Lim Kwong Ling learnt photography from Lee Sow Lim at the Adult Education Board. Later, his pursuit of naturalism led him to reject the conventional practice of staging scenes, as he sought to depict more meaningful images of daily life. Tan Lip Seng (b. 1942, Singapore): Tan Lip Seng developed his own distinct style and method of colour photography in the 1960s. Self-taught and originally a medical photographer by profession, Tan counts Lee Lim as one of his major influences. This can be clearly seen in Tan’s experiments with photo montages. His semi-abstract and brightly-coloured landscapes of Singapore have become a trademark of his style.
SCAN TO VISIT #GALLERYANYWHERE
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HIGHLIGHTS CALENDAR OCT SPECIAL SPECIAL
23 SAT PERFORMANCE (p.28)
9 SAT PROGRAMMES (p.34)
Stories in Art Other dates: Every 2nd & 4th Sat & Sun
ART + LIVE Burmélange for Between Declarations and Dreams: Art of Southeast Asia since the 19th Century
NOV ON-SITE FESTIVAL OPENS ON
FIRSTOUR ITION ED ORE EXPL HYBRID EVER
26 FRI
NEW
SPECIAL EXHIBITION (p.12)
6 SAT
Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real
SPECIAL PROGRAMMES (p.24)
Gallery Children’s Biennale 2021: Why Art Matters
OPENING
22 MAY
2021 -
22 DEC 20
Chua Mia Tee. Portable Cinema. 1977. Oil on canvas, 78.5 × 79.4 cm. Gift of Times Publishing Limited
DEC
4 SAT
OPENING
PROGRAMMES (p.34)
Family Art Tours Other dates: Every 1st & 3rd Sat & Sun
10 FRI
NEW
SPECIAL EXHIBITION (p.10)
Nam June Paik: The Future is Now
Nam June Paik. John Cage Robot II. 1995. Vintage wood television cabinets, colour television receivers, DVD players, multi-channel video, piano keys, piano hammers, piano wire, acrylic paint, basket, books, wood mushrooms and chessmen. 274.3 × 203.2 × 78.7 cm. Collection of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, Arkansas, 2011.17. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.
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For the latest updates on exhibitions and programmes, please visit nationalgallery.sg.
GALLERY TURNS 5! (p.8)
OPENING
ONGOING
NEW
29 FRI
SPECIAL EXHIBITION (p.14)
Antony Gormley
SPECIAL EXHIBITION (p.20)
The Tailors and the Mannequins: Chen Cheng Mei and You Khin
Chen Cheng Mei. Market Scene, Sri Lanka. 1975. Oil on canvas, 61 × 80 cm. Recent acquisition.
27 SAT PERFORMANCE (p.28)
Resonates With Gulnara Mashurova for Between Declarations and Dreams: Art of Southeast Asia since 19th Century
28 SUN CURATOR TOUR (p.26)
Wu Guanzhong: Learning from the Master
15 WED PERFORMANCE (p.29)
Afterlude-Prelude: Responses to Nam June Paik Other dates: Every Wed–Sun Nam June Paik and John Godfrey. Global Groove, 1973. Video, colour, sound. 28 min, 30 sec. Courtesy of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York.
18 SAT TALKS (p.30)
In Gallery Sessions Other dates: Every 3rd Sat of the month
nationalgallery.sg/galleryanywhere
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NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE TURNS 5! ART FOR ALL 1
Go on a fun and intriguing journey with author Shamini Flint as she chats about food and art in our very first podcast!
2 Art Through Your Eyes
Join us as we commemorate our fifth anniversary with a slew of programmes and initiatives designed to enable all to access the power of art to heal and provide respite. Curated for people of all ages and from all walks of life, regardless of language, interests and needs, everyone can look forward to innovative, engaging and meaningful experiences with art.
Discover quirky, thought-provoking and insightful responses to key artworks in our galleries penned by members of the public.
Lee Man Fong. Self-Portrait. 1958. Oil on canvas, 99 × 102 cm Gift of Mr and Mrs Putra Masagung.
Lee Man Fong’s self-portrait is a serve. I would like to imagine that Mr Lee was a hipster back in the day, with his thick black rimmed glasses, gently tousled hair and little moustache. What a cool guy! Self-Portrait reminds of the of the modern-day selfie, but with a little more thought and artistic direction. After all, self-portraits take a lot of effort to create, don’t they? The carefully positioned flowers and sculptures doused in a slight sepia-toned colour palette make me believe that Lee Man Fong was the coolest hipster on the block, period. Shevon Leck has a deep love for the local arts scene. She enjoys reading art books, watching crime documentaries and wondering when she can attend a local gig again. Shevon is a volunteer with Kolektif, an experimental youth programme at the Gallery for 17 to 25 year olds.
View Self-Portrait at DBS Singapore Gallery 1.
IT’S THE SEASON OF GIFTING
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From just $50, you can “own” an artwork together with a group of like-minded art enthusiasts and build our National Collection for future generations.
Now, more than ever, art can guide us to find inspiration and emerge stronger through uncertain times. Help us champion artists, care for the art in our collection, and provide essential resources to continue to uncover new perspectives to present art.
Our exhibition and programme patrons help to make art more accessible to everyone.
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THE PEOPLE'S GALLERY NEW!
THE PEOPLE’S GALLERY
Liu Kang White Sail 1961
We are bringing art closer to you, right to your void decks! Explore more than 50 works of art from the National Collection in augmented reality at your doorstep. Uncover artworks that will provide a fresh new perspective on Singapore and Southeast Asian art.
Choy Weng Yang Horizontals I 1977
Chuah Thean Teng Mother and Children
SCAN THIS QR CODE TO FIND A SITE NEAR YOU.
We have brought art to your neighbourhoods! See your void decks transformed into interactive museums featuring surprising and intriguing artworks from the National Collection. Explore the best of Singapore and Southeast Asian art in augmented reality now! Scan to unveil artworks, discover the stories behind these work, watch videos and tune in to the audio guides! Tell us what you like, didn’t like and your thoughts about the art and stand to get a free, one-year Gallery Insider membership worth up to $120.
We are at these neighbourhoods, drop by now! Yishun Punggol Bishan
Jurong West
Pasir Ris Serangoon Toa Payoh Marine Parade
LEARN MORE!
Scan to unveil artworks, discover stories behind these work, watch videos and society tunethrough in to thehere audio Help us nurture an inclusive and creative art. Click to make aguides! donation today. Tell us what you like, didn't like and your thoughts about the art and stand to get a free, one-year Gallery Insider membership worth up to $120 in value. Artwork credits: Choy Weng Yang. Horizontals I. 1977. Oil on canvas. 92 × 92 cm . Gift of the artist. Collection of National Gallery Singapore. Liu Kang. White Sail. 1961. Oil on masonite,. 71.5 × 58.5 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore. Chuah Thean Teng. Mother and Children. Undated. Batik on cotton, 82.6 × 45 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore
S U P P O RT T H E GA L L E RY
National Gallery Singapore 1 St Andrew’s Road, Singapore 178957
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SCAN HERE TO VIEW 5TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OFFERINGS
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SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS NAM JUNE PAIK: THE FUTURE IS NOW Opening on 10 Dec | City Hall Wing, Level 3, Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery and Level B1, Basement Concourse
Nam June Paik. Sistine Chapel. 1993. Video projectors, metal, wood, custom video switchers and four video channels, colour, sound. Lent by the Estate of Nam June Paik.
Don’t miss our biggest exhibition of the year! Treat your senses to a riot of vision, colour and sound from works of visionary artist and “father” of video art—NAM JUNE PAIK. Playful, electrifying and thought-provoking, this immersive show will invite audiences to reflect upon their relationship with technology, and its intersection with other disciplines such as nature, music and religion. The first major retrospective of Nam June Paik in Southeast Asia, this exhibition surveys over five decades of his pioneering work in the use of television and video in art.
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Exhibitions
NEW
Nam June Paik, installation view at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, May 8–October 3, 2021. Photo: Adam Jacobs Photography.
Born in present-day South Korea in 1932, Paik was a key figure in the avant-garde movements of the 20th century and one of the first international superstars in the art world. He is credited with coining the term “electronic superhighway,” which foretold transformations in the way people would communicate in the networked age of the internet. Discover the expansive range of Paik's work through 180 installations, projections, modified televisions, video sculptures, robots and other inventive contraptions, as well as archival materials relating to Paik's training in music and participation in movements such as Fluxus. This international exhibition has travelled to London's Tate, Amsterdam's Stedelijk Museum and San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art—making its last stop here at the Gallery. Book your tickets now before it ends on 27 March 2022. For info on ticketing, admissions and more, visit namjunepaik.sg.
This exhibition is organised by Tate Modern, London and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in collaboration with National Gallery Singapore. Curated by Sook-Kyung Lee (Senior Research Curator, Tate) and Rudolf Frieling (Curator of Media Arts, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) in collaboration with curators from National Gallery Singapore, June Yap (Senior Curator), Clarissa Chikiamco (Curator), Jennifer K. Y. Lam (Assistant Curator) and Roy Ng (Curatorial Assistant).
Lead Partner
Strategic Partners
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SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS CHUA MIA TEE: DIRECTING THE REAL Opening on 26 Nov | City Hall Wing, Level 4 Gallery
Chua Mia Tee. Portable Cinema. 1977. Oil on canvas, 78.5 × 79.4 cm. Gift of Times Publishing Limited.
Chua Mia Tee (b. 1931) is widely regarded as Singapore’s foremost realist artist. According to Chua, “The painter has to function as a playwright, a director and an actor for the piece on which he or she is working.” Through the lens of film and his writings, this exhibition focuses on Chua’s practice from the 1950s to 1980s, a period of contention in Singapore as the young nation developed and strived for economic success. Chua’s depictions of the city and its inhabitants offer an insight into Singapore’s ambition for progress and the diverse groups of people who have contributed to its story.
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NEW
Chua Mia Tee Samsui Women 1977 Oil on canvas, 76.9 × 78 cm Gift of Times Publishing Limited Collection of National Heritage Board
Chua Mia Tee Singapore—A Growing Nation 1981 Oil on canvas, 94.5 × 161 cm Collection of Lim & Tan Securities Pte Ltd
Strategic Partner
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SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS NG TENG FONG ROOF GARDEN COMMISSION: ANTONY GORMLEY Ongoing | Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery
Antony Gormley, Horizon Field Singapore. Work in progress at Hexham studio, England, 2020.
Antony Gormley (b. 1950, United Kingdom) is internationally renowned for his sculptures, installations and public artworks that investigate the relationship of the human body to space. The fifth Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Commission, Horizon Field Singapore invites visitors into an immersive experience exploring space and form. Series Partner
The Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery is made possible with the support of Far East Organization. 14
ANTONY GORMLEY Ongoing | Various locations Three of Gormley’s earlier sculptures—Close V, Sense and Ferment will also be on display in the Gallery’s public spaces, activating and engaging with the architecture of the buildings.
Antony Gormley Close V 1998 Cast iron 27 × 201 × 174 cm Image credit: Joseph Nair/ Memphis West Pictures © the artist
Antony Gormley. Sense. 1991. Concrete, 4.5 × 62.5 × 60 cm. Photograph by Stephen White, London. © the Artist. Antony Gormley. Ferment. 2007. 2 mm square section and stainless steel bar, 273 × 177 × 211 cm. Photograph by Stephen White, London. © the Artist.
Strategic Partner
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SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS WU GUANZHONG: LEARNING FROM THE MASTER Ongoing | City Hall Wing, Level 4, Wu Guanzhong Gallery
Wu Guanzhong with students from the Central Academy of Art and Design’s Department of Graphic Design 1977 class, on one of their outdoor drawing trips to Shanhai Pass, October 1978. Image courtesy of Zhang Peng.
Wu Guanzhong (1919–2010) is one of the most significant Chinese painters of the 20th century, renowned for his innovative fusion of Chinese aesthetic elements with Western modernism. He is also acclaimed as an educator, sharing his artistic practices and philosophies with students at leading art educational institutions in China over a teaching career that spanned more than 40 years. Wu Guanzhong: Learning from the Master invites you into the intimate dialogues between Wu and his students at the Central Academy of Art and Design on their creative journeys, as they explored techniques, aesthetic sensibilities and more. The exhibition investigates for the first time Wu’s philosophies of art and pedagogy through manuscripts, art journals, sketchbooks, photographs and drawings by the master and his students. Strategic Partner
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THE GIFT: COLLECTING ENTANGLEMENTS AND EMBODIED HISTORIES
CLOSING ON 7 NOV
Organised by the Singapore Art Museum Closing on 7 Nov | City Hall Wing, Level B1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Concourse Gallery
Gabriel Barredo One 1999 Mixed media 69.5 × 57.7 × 17.4 cm Collection of Singapore Art Museum
The apparently ordinary act of gifting is in fact ambivalent and paradoxical. The study of its bestowal, return and even its impossibility has long been a source of fascination, vexation and debate. The Gift explores the tangible and intangible in the offer that is an embodiment of expansiveness of spirit as much as it is an obligation to another. Collecting Entanglements and Embodied Histories is a dialogue between the collections of the Singapore Art Museum, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum, and Nationalgalerie—Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, initiated by the Goethe-Institut.
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LONG–TERM EXHIBITIONS SIAPA NAMA KAMU? ART IN SINGAPORE SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY Ongoing | City Hall Wing, Level 2, DBS Singapore Gallery The Gallery’s long-term exhibitions feature over 800 Singapore and Southeast Asian artworks, and are constantly evolving. Every year, visitors can discover over 200 new pieces. These updates to our long-term exhibitions allow us to display our artworks in new and exciting configurations, enabling us to tell different stories and introduce new perspectives. Each gallery has a distinct focus, which may be a specific medium or subject matter, or tracing an impulse shared by various artists at a particular moment in time. Refreshing our exhibitions also allows us to showcase works that we have recently acquired alongside our latest research, thereby continually expanding and enriching the narratives of art in the region.
Chen Wen Hsi Returning from Market 1960s Oil on canvas 91.3 × 106.6 cm
Chen Wen Hsi draws on his study of Chinese ink painting and influences from Cubism in this scene, composed of a mixture of bold lines and geometric blocks in contrasting colours. The women appear to be having a conversation as they return from the market, clothed in colourful dresses with intricate patterns. Chen is known for his experimental ways of depicting local subject matters—like the ubiquitous market—integrating painting styles from diverse art movements.
Yusman Aman Structure l 1972 Batik 114.8 × 89.5 cm
Yusman Aman was a self-taught artist who was known for his inventive approach to batik. Structure l demonstrates his innovative use of the medium to develop abstract forms. In this painting, Yusman exploits the opacity of dyes to create a complex composition of interlocking angular shapes. Yusman practiced actively in Singapore, and this work was exhibited at the seminal artistrun space Alpha Gallery as part of his solo show there in 1973. On display in DBS Singapore Gallery 2.
On display in DBS Singapore Gallery 1.
The DBS Singapore Gallery is made possible with the support of DBS Bank. 18
BETWEEN DECLARATIONS & DREAMS: ART OF SOUTHEAST ASIA SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY Ongoing | Supreme Court Wing, Levels 3–5, UOB Southeast Asia Gallery
Nhek Dim Village Scene 1960 Oil on canvas 55 × 75.5 cm
Nhek Dim was the most celebrated painter in Cambodia during the 1960s, when the nation became embroiled in Cold War conflicts. Village Scene was featured in a 1961 exhibition organised by the United States Information Service in Phnom Penh, and subsequently reproduced in Free World, a magazine published by the United States in several Southeast Asian languages and distributed widely. The warm colours and flattened forms are typical of Nhek Dim’s work. This painting evokes a sense of tropical abundance, a trope often employed by modern artists in Southeast Asia to describe peasant life. On display in UOB Southeast Asia Gallery 13.
This is an extremely rare painting of General Aung San, the key architect of Myanmar’s independence from British colonial rule and father of Aung San Suu Kyi. Likely painted from a photograph, this vividly realistic yet heartfelt portrait was painted by U Ngwe Gaing, a leading modernist painter of the period. On display in UOB Southeast Asia Gallery 6. U Ngwe Gaing. Portrait of General Aung San. c. 1950−1967. Oil on cardboard support lined on pre-primed cotton fabric, 50 × 39.5 cm. This acquisition was made possible with donations to the Art Adoption & Acquisition Programme.
The UOB Southeast Asia Gallery is made possible with the support of UOB. 19
LONG–TERM EXHIBITIONS THE TAILORS AND THE MANNEQUINS: CHEN CHENG MEI AND YOU KHIN
NEW
Opening on 29 Oct | Dalam Southeast Asia, Level 3, UOB Southeast Asia Gallery
Chen Cheng Mei. Market Scene, Sri Lanka. 1975. Oil on canvas, 61 × 80 cm. Recent acquisition.
You Khin. Untitled (Doha Scene: Pakistani Bakers). 1990. Oil on canvas, 65 × 100 cm. Recent acquisition.
Dalam Southeast Asia is an experimental project space located within the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery. Projects presented here ask critical questions and explore lesser-known narratives in Southeast Asian art, while attempting a recalibration of what a collections-based display is and what it may seek to achieve. This exhibition features artworks by Chen Cheng Mei and You Khin. Both artists adopted highly individual styles, led unusual lives, and have been outliers in most art historical accounts. Although Chen and You did not know each other and were born two decades apart, they shared a lasting affinity for portraying everyday scenes in diverse locations. While Chen Cheng Mei lived and worked in Singapore, she travelled extensively in Africa, South Asia and elsewhere. She made this painting, Market Scene, Sri Lanka, aftter one of several trips there. Her journeys inspired a planetary consciousness that is reflected in her artwork. You Khin was born in Cambodia but lived in Africa and the Middle East between the 1970s and 2000s. His artworks often capture aspects of daily life, reflecting his belief that “My world is modern. On display at Dalam Southeast Asia in the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery. The Tailors and the Mannequins: Chen Cheng Mei and You Khin.
The UOB Southeast Asia Gallery is made possible with the support of UOB. Visit our website for the e-catalogue for The Tailors and the Mannequins. It examines how the two artists drew from their encounters with modern people in unfamiliar locations, and features a selection of photographs, sketches and biographical timelines. 20
UNREALISED Ongoing | Accessible only via the Gallery Explorer app
unrealised is a virtual experience developed in dialogue with three artists—Heman Chong, Ho Tzu Nyen and Erika Tan. It tests the potentials of the digital image within the physical spaces of the Gallery’s long-term displays. To access unrealised, please download the Gallery Explorer app from the App Store and Google Play store or borrow a device from Tour Services at Level 1, Padang Atrium Counter. For more information, please visit nationalgallery.sg/unrealised.
SCAN TO DOWNLOAD APP
Left to right Courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board. | Yusof Ishak Collection, courtesy of Please note earphones are required National Archives of Singapore. | Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore. | to experience unrealised. The Hebblewhite Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.
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LONG–TERM EXHIBITIONS OUTBOUND Ongoing | Various locations
nationalgallery.sg/outbound #outboundsg
(L-R): Kak Julitah, Yee I-Lann, and Kak Roziah. Yee I-Lann (b. 1971, Malaysia) with weaving assistance from Bajau Sama DiLaut weavers led by Kak Roziah: Kak Anjung, Makcik Bagai, Makcik Billung, Makcik Braini, Kak Budi, Kak Ebbuh, Makcik Gangah, Kak Ginnuh, Kak Gultiam, Makcik Indah Laiha, Kak Kanuk, Kak Kinnuhong, Makcik Kuluk, Adik Lornah, Kak Norbaya and Kak Sana; and Dusun Murut weavers led by Julitah Kulinting: Lili Naming, Siat Yanau, Mohd Shahrizan Bin Rupin, Juraen Sapirin, S. Narty Abd. Hairun, Zaitun Abd. Hairun and Julia Ginasius. Tikar-A-Gagah. 2019. Pandanus weave with commercial chemical dye (front); Split bamboo weave with black natural dye (back); stitched with bamboo weave. On display at the foyer near the Holding Cells, Level 1, Supreme Court Wing.
Tikar-a-Gagah is the result of an 18-month long collaboration between artist Yee I-Lann and indigenous weavers in Sabah, a northern Borneo state in Malaysia. Commissioned for the Gallery’s OUTBOUND series, the artwork features both traditional and contemporary motifs that reveal the process of co-invention between Yee and the weavers, whose traditional motifs are passed down orally from one generation to the next. Tikar-A-Gagah features abstract, maritime-inspired patterns of the Bajau sea communities as well as graphical motifs of landscapes, fauna and communal gatherings of the Dusun and Murut land communities. By drawing on traditional weaving techniques and the symbolism of the tikar in indigenous culture, Tikar-A-Gagah generates new conversations about contemporary forms of art in this region. OUTBOUND is a series of unique commissions that imaginatively transform transitionary spaces at the Gallery. Each commission is an artistic and temporal landmark that anchors and guides the visitor’s experience while highlighting the Gallery’s iconic architecture. The inaugural season presents projects from artists Gary Carsley (Australia), Jeremy Chu (Singapore), Jane Lee (Singapore), Haegue Yang (South Korea) and Yee I-Lann (Malaysia). 22
LISTENING TO ARCHITECTURE: THE GALLERY’S HISTORIES AND TRANSFORMATIONS Ongoing | City Hall Wing, Level 4, ArchiGallery
Zai Tang. Resident Frequencies: A Brief Aural History of National Gallery Singapore. 2017. Eight-channel sound installation, 36 mins. Commissioned by National Gallery Singapore. Image courtesy of the artist.
The architecture of the City Hall and former Supreme Court buildings may be imagined as an ongoing conversation between different generations across time. The inaugural exhibition at the ArchiGallery offers insights into the enduring histories and architectural designs of the two national monuments and their dramatic transformations into a home for Southeast Asian art. It also features never-before-seen artefacts excavated from the Gallery’s grounds, and a commissioned sonic artwork by artist Zai Tang that draws on the historical, social and spatial memories created in the buildings.
LAW OF THE LAND: HIGHLIGHTS OF SINGAPORE’S CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS Ongoing | Supreme Court Wing, Level 3, Chief Justice's Chamber & Office Organised by the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) and the National Library Board (NLB), this exhibition explores the history of Singapore’s constitutional development from a British settlement in 1819 to its emergence as a sovereign republic in 1965. It presents a selection of 23 rare documents from the NAS and NLB's collections, each capturing a key moment in Singapore's legal history and journey to independence.
Third Charter of Justice, 1855 This document affirmed the reception of English law in Singapore and provided the settlement with its own professional judge (then known as a Recorder).
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SPECIAL PROGRAMMES
ENS L OP FREE! A V I T S I FES SSION I SITE ON- V | ADM O N 6
r t-eve r firs n!’ u o e r io Explhoybrid edit Explore the online festival here
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Special Programmes
Discover why art matters! Empower your child to navigate the changing times with empathy and confidence as they learn about the Environment, Time, Diversity and Home while having a whole lot of fun! Don't miss these highlights!
Calling for Rain by Khvay Samnang Calling for Rain takes us on a journey through the landscapes of Cambodia as it follows Kiri, the Monkey on his quest to save the dying forest and the surrounding environment. The story unfolds as he falls in love with Kongkea, the Fish and encounters the irresponsible behaviour of Aki, the Fire Dragon. Through this work, children will learn about the need to care for our environment.
Illuminated by Nona Garcia
Illuminated is composed of digital X-ray images of organic objects such as bones and sea corals that make up our diverse environment. As kids explore these objects, they will come to understand that every living and non-living thing is unique.
Superstar by Jeremy Sharma Together with his two sons, artist Jeremy Sharma created Superstar, a clickable speculative world. As kids enter and navigate this installation, they are invited to rethink the past, present and future.
Development Partner
Strategic Partner
*artist’s rendering for illustrative purposes only
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GALLERY TOURS DAILY TOURS Explore the rich history of our buildings and collections by joining one of our guided tours led by trained docents. To reserve a slot, register online or proceed to Visitor Services at Padang Atrium Level 1 at least 30 minutes before the tour starts. Limited slots are available on a first come, first served basis. Tour participants should obtain or purchase admission tickets prior to joining a tour.
BUILDING HIGHLIGHTS English Thu–Sun 11am | Mandarin Sat–Sun 10.30am
DBS SINGAPORE GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS English Thu–Sun 1pm | Mandarin Sat–Sun noon
HIGHLIGHTS OF WU GUANZHONG: LEARNING FROM THE MASTER Until 5 Dec 2021 | English Thu–Sun 11.30am | Mandarin Sat–Sun 2pm
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GALLERY English Fri–Sun 1.30pm | Mandarin Sat–Sun 4pm
UOB SOUTHEAST ASIA GALLERY HIGHLIGHTS English Thu–Sun 3.30pm | Mandarin Sat–Sun 3pm
HIGHLIGHTS OF CHUA MIA TEE: DIRECTING THE REAL + WU GUANZHONG: LEARNING FROM THE MASTER (STARTS 10 DEC) English Thu–Sun 11.30am | Mandarin Sat–Sun 2pm
HIGHLIGHTS OF NAM JUNE PAIK: THE FUTURE IS NOW (STARTS 24 DEC) English Thu–Sun 2pm | Mandarin Sat–Sun 1.30pm
CURATOR TOURS Join exhibition curators and discover artwork and archival highlights, curatorial narratives and behind-the-scenes processes that went into the making of our current exhibitions.
WU GUANZHONG: LEARNING FROM THE MASTER Sun 28 Nov | 11–11.45am | Level 4 Gallery, City Hall Wing | Registration is required Led by the curators of Wu Guanzhong: Learning from the Master, this tour delves into the exhibition's curatorial narratives and offers insights into Wu's pedagogical thinking during his teaching career that spanned over 40 years.
GROUP TOURS COMMUNITY GROUPS The Gallery offers guided tours for community groups at a concessionary rate. For more information, please email groupenquiries@nationalgallery.sg.
CORPORATE OR OTHER PRIVATE GROUPS Please email groupenquiries@nationalgallery.sg for more information. 26
SELF-GUIDED AUDIO TOURS Download our free Gallery Explorer app to enjoy rich audio commentary on our long-term and special exhibitions.
SCAN TO DOWNLOAD GALLERY EXPLORER APP
Tours
ART X COCKTAILS TOUR Sat 4pm | $35 per ticket (U.P. $45), limited slots | General Admission ticket also required Add a touch of culture to happy hour with the perfect pairing of Art X Cocktails at the Gallery! Go on a 60-minute docent-led tour to discover the artworks that inspired craft cocktails from Smoke & Mirrors and learn about the evolution of cocktails throughout history. Note: The tour is not suitable for visitors below the age of 18. Tour ticket comes with one (1) complimentary cocktail from “The Real Art of Drinking” menu at Smoke & Mirrors, or a mocktail if desired.
BACK-OF-HOUSE TOURS FORMER SUPREME COURT: UNSEEN, UNHEARD Sat 5.30pm, Sun 4.30pm | $15 per ticket, limited slots | General Admission ticket also required This tour offers a glimpse into restricted areas of the former Supreme Court, usually out of bounds to the public. Go behind-the-scenes and find out more about courtroom proceedings and the experience of persons on trial as you: • Traverse a network of hidden passageways • Climb through a trapdoor into a prisoner’s dock • Gain access to the Viewing Gallery where members of the public used to sit during court hearings • Discover stories of some of the highest profile cases in Singapore’s history since 1939, tried in these very courtrooms Note: The tour is not suitable for children below the age of 13 and visitors with limited mobility. Please wear comfortable footwear and attire. Wearing high heels is strongly not recommended due to safety reasons. 27
PERFORMANCES ART + LIVE Art + Live is a series of multidisciplinary programmes featuring Singaporean and Southeast Asian artists. These are works filmed specially for the Gallery’s online platform. Upcoming concerts: Burmélange for Between Declarations and Dreams: Art of Southeast Asia since the 19th Century 23 Oct | 2.30pm
Leaism for Between Declarations and Dreams: Art of Southeast Asia since the 19th Century 20 Nov | 2.30pm
RESONATES WITH Our monthly concert series invites young and professional musicians to respond to the themes found in our artworks and exhibitions. Upcoming concerts: avik for Siapa Namu Kamu? Art in Singapore since the 19th Century 30 Oct | 2.30pm & 4.00pm | Padang Atrium
Gulnara Mashurova for Between Declarations and Dreams: Art of Southeast Asia since the 19th Century 27 Nov | 2.30pm & 4.00pm | Padang Atrium
weish for Nam June Paik: The Future is Now 18 Dec | 2.30pm & 4.00pm | Padang Atrium
All programmes will be streamed on the Gallery’s Facebook and YouTube pages on Saturday, 2.30pm 28
LIVE PERFORMANCE AN ARTIST’S JOURNEY BY LYNNETTE SEAH: IN RESPONSE TO CHUA MIA TEE: DIRECTING THE REAL Singapore Courtyard 4 Dec | 5.00pm–5.40pm Culture Medallion violinist Lynnette Seah is invited to present a special performance in response to artworks from Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real. Her performance will reflect on the ebbs and flows of the life of the artist, from the naivete of youth, to the content comfort of storied career.
PERFORMANCE ON FILM AFTERLUDE-PRELUDE: RESPONSES TO NAM JUNE PAIK
Featuring Artists Aki Onda (Tokyo, New York) Ayumi Paul (Berlin) bani haykal (Singapore) Lynn Lu (London, Singapore) Melinda Lauw (Singapore) Michael Rauter (Berlin) Nam June Paik, with performer Sophis (Shuhui) Zhou (San Francisco) and Hewen Ma (Shanghai) Song-Ming Ang (Berlin, Singapore) Sue Kim and Kim Jae Hoon with Diveline Ensemble (Seoul) Tad Ermitaño (Manila) Tini Aliman (Singapore) weish (Singapore) Yuen Chee Wai (Singapore) Nam June Paik and John Godfrey. Global Groove, 1973. Video, colour, sound. 28 min, 30 sec. Courtesy of Electronic Arts Intermix (EAI), New York.
Prompted by Nam June Paik’s global satellite projects and the surge in remote communication due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this series of programmes explores the legacy of Nam June Paik’s texts in performances, readings and artistic interventions. Featuring more than 13 artists from Singapore, London, Berlin, New York, Tokyo, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai and Manila, several hours of material will be screened for the duration of the exhibition. *Please note that dates and timings may be subject to change. 29
Performances
Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium 15 Dec 2021–27 Mar 2022 | Wed–Sun, 10.00am–7.00pm*
TALKS & WORKSHOPS
PODCAST: NO FLASH Welcome to our official unofficial podcast, NO FLASH. These are impossible interviews, tall tales and the strangest stories never told. This is the Gallery like you’ve never heard it. Season 1, Unstill Life, is available now on your favourite podcast platform.
PODCAST: THE PADANG SESSIONS Join us as we chart the art of Southeast Asia and beyond, one dialogue at a time. Follow The Padang Sessions on your favourite podcast platform to listen to our audio archive of lectures, panels and conversations recorded live in the Gallery, whenever and wherever you are.
IN GALLERY SESSIONS Join us every third Saturday of the month and get up close with Gallery curators, artists, and practitioners as they delve into the processes and narratives behind selected works. This series held in the DBS Singapore Gallery and the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery prompts a closer examination of artworks on display. Registration is required. 30
ROTUNDA LIBRARY & ARCHIVE
Situated in the heart of the former Supreme Court, where the legal reference library was once located, the Rotunda Library & Archive offers visitors a gateway to the Gallery’s extensive collection of reference and archival materials focusing on 19th to 20th century art of Singapore and Southeast Asia, and provides a welcoming environment for reading and research. The Library & Archive collection consists of approximately 20,000 archival and nearly 10,000 reference materials. Of these, the archives consist of artists’ primary resources such as letters, writings, interviews, recordings of performances, sketches and drawings, as well as press clippings and other exhibition-related ephemera. The resources continue to grow thanks to the generous support of artists and their families, collectors and other collaborators. For assistance or enquiries, please write to library.archive@nationalgallery.sg. You may also access a large selection of resources from our artwork and Library & Archive collections on our Collections Search Portal at collections.nationalgallery.sg. OPERATING HOURS: Mon–Fri 10am–12.30pm, 2–5pm, Closed 4 Nov. *The hours may be changed in accordance with the Government’s latest COVID-19 advisory. Please check the Gallery’s website and social media for latest information.
ACCESS OVER 6,000 ARTWORKS AND 8,000 ARCHIVAL MATERIALS
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KEPPEL CENTRE FOR ART EDUCATION
The Keppel Centre for Art Education is a dynamic space where art inspires new ways of learning. Come experience the immersive spaces that encourage imagination, creativity and self-led exploration. The Centre also provides a lively line-up of programmes for youth, children and families all year round. Located on Level 1 of the City Hall Wing, the Keppel Centre is easily accessible to schools and families with young children. Admission is free.
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5+
YEARS
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM WORKSHOP
If robots could create anything, what would you want them to make and why? Children are invited to express their creativity and think about whether robots could be considered artists. They can also explore the tools used by Singapore artist Yeo Shih Yun to create her abstract ink paintings.
4+
YEARS
ART PLAYSCAPE
Run across the padded floor, clap your hands as loud as you can, or move your arms in each zone! What will happen next? Surrounded by swirling brushstrokes created by artist Yeo Shih Yun, revel in the energy of ink splatters in this lively space as you embark on your own Ink-credible Adventure! Upcoming!
We will be refreshing Project Gallery and Children’s Museum to bring you new creative spaces in November 2021. For more information, please visit www.nationalgallery.sg/gallerykids.
Kids & Schools
3
e asy s teps
The Keppel Centre for Art Education is open with limited capacity and Safe Management Measures in place so that you can enjoy a safe and fun visit with family and friends. Please check our website for the latest updates on what's happening at the Centre!
Let’s keep the Keppel Centre clean and safe for everyone to enjoy, with just 3 steps! 1 Keep your mask on at all times. 2 Sanitise your hands carefully. 3 Inform an adult if you are not feeling well.
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KIDS’ PROGRAMMES & ACTIVITIES Enjoy family programmes specially designed in collaboration with artists and art practitioners, and conducted by experienced artists and museum facilitators to develop a sense of curiosity, imagination and appreciation of art in children. To receive the latest programme information, visit www.nationalgallery.sg/families.
FAMILY PROGRAMMES 3+
YEARS
DROP-IN ACTIVITY
Every day | 10am–7pm | Ages 3 and up | Free Get creative! Experiment with the different media in the Keppel Workshops to explore themes inspired by our artworks.
4+
YEARS
STORIES IN ART
Every 2nd and 4th weekend of the month 9–10, 23–24 Oct, 13–14, 27–28 Nov, 11–12, 25–26 Dec | 2.30–3.15pm, 3.30–4.15pm | Ages 4 and up | Free* Listen as our storyteller paints a picture worth a thousand words and tells the stories inspired by the artworks found in our Gallery. Why not join in the fun with a song or rhyme?
5+
YEARS
FAMILY ART TOURS
Every 1st and 3rd weekend of the month 2–3, 16–17 Oct, 6–7, 20–21 Nov, 4–5, 18–19 Dec | 2.30–3.20pm, 3.30–4.20pm | Ages 5 and up | Free* Learn about different artworks and enjoy engaging conversations with your family as our facilitator brings you on a tour to discuss art and themes relevant to life today. *Register for our programmes at the entrance of Keppel Centre for Art Education. Due to the COVID-19 situation, please note that programme timings may be subject to change.
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OTHER KIDS’ ACTIVITIES GALLERYKIDS! WEBSITE Online , www.gallerykids.sg Watch a storytelling session or create an artwork inspired by our art tutorials—there is always something for your children to explore at GalleryKids! Don’t forget to join us as a member to track your journey in learning about art and for updates on our latest activities on-site.
SCHOOL PROGRAMMES Our school programmes support teaching, learning and research in art and museum education. Resources such as Click and Play Packs are available for teachers who wish to engage students in blended learning with our artwork collection. Museum-based Learning Tours Facilitated by museum educators, guided tours are now available for students, where they can learn more about the artwork collection through active discussions. On-site guided tours and virtual tours will be available for registration. For more information, please email school.bookings@nationalgallery.sg. Travelling Art Programme The Travelling Art programme is an outreach programme which consists of a series of mobile art education stations that will be loaned to schools for a period to foster curiosity about the artwork collection and learning among students in school settings. Inspired by artworks created by Singapore and Southeast Asian artists, these stations provide teachers with opportunities to engage students with activities such as role-playing and imaginative dialogues. For more information, please email school.outreach@nationalgallery.sg.
EDUCATORS’ PROGRAMMES The Gallery offers a variety of programmes to support educators in connecting students with art. These programmes are designed to develop visual literacy, art interpretive skills and museum-based educational strategies. For more information, please email school.bookings@nationalgallery.sg. 35
SHOPPING & DINING
For the latest updates on our Shopping & Dining outlets, please visit nationalgallery.sg/see-do/shopping-and-dining.
ART City Hall Wing, Level 6 | Tel: 6866 1977 Tue−Sun noon−2pm, 6.30−10pm
Art is an elegant contemporary Italian restaurant helmed by Michelin-star Chef-Restaurateur Beppe De Vito. Dining at Art will take you on a journey through an ever-evolving menu that brings together Italian tradition, top quality produce and innovative culinary techniques. Art is located at the Gallery rooftop, with indoor and alfresco seating available. COURTYARD CAFÉ Supreme Court Wing, Level 1 | Tel: 6384 1874 Sun–Thu 10am−6pm (last order at 5.30pm) Fri, Sat 10am-7pm (last order at 6.30pm)
Specialising in Straits Asian food, the Courtyard Café serves authentic and modern interpretations of local dishes alongside a selection of traditional kuehs, cakes, toast and beverages. COURTYARD LOUNGE Supreme Court Wing, Level 1 | Tel: 6384 1874 Mon–Thu 1–6pm Fri–Sat 1–7pm
Nestled in a cosy corner of the Gallery, Courtyard Lounge serves Asian-fusion tapas in a tranquil ambience with relaxing jazz music. GEMMA City Hall Wing, Level 5 | Tel: 8787 0977 Tue–Sun noon−2.30pm, 6.30−10.30pm
A concept by Beppe De Vito of Il Lido Group, this contemporary Italian steakhouse in the city is a modern renaissance of Italian fine dining. HACHI RESTAURANT Supreme Court Wing, Level 1 | Tel: 6734 9622 Mon–Sat noon–2.30pm, 6–11pm
Hachi Restaurant continues its 20-year tradition of Japanese seasonal omakase dining with its new flagship at the Gallery. Expect new creations and techniques that showcase the best ingredients from the land and seas of Japan. NATIONAL KITCHEN BY VIOLET OON SINGAPORE City Hall Wing, Level 2 | Tel: 9834 9935 Daily noon–2.30pm, 3–5pm (afternoon tea, weekends only), 6–10.30pm
Helmed by local celebrity chef Violet Oon, National Kitchen serves perennial favourites that reflect Singapore’s rich culinary heritage.
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Patrons to our F&B establishments are reminded to adhere to the prevailing Safe Management Measures, and that the consumption of alcohol is prohibited after 10.30pm.
ODETTE Supreme Court Wing, Level 1 | Tel: 6385 0498 Mon−Sat noon−1.15pm (last seating), 7−8.15pm (last seating). Closed on Sundays and Public Holidays
This modern French restaurant reflects Chef-Owner Julien Royer’s respect for seasonality, terroir and the finest artisanal produce. Using classic French techniques, Royer presents the world’s finest seasonal ingredients in their purest form and flavour. SMOKE & MIRRORS City Hall Wing, Level 6 | Tel: 9380 6313 Mon−Sun 3−11.30pm
Enjoy magnificent panoramic views over the Padang and Marina Bay while savouring a drink from a meticulously curated menu that includes signature cocktails, wines and craft spirits. THE GALLERY STORE City Hall Wing, Level 1 Daily 10am–7pm
The Gallery Store offers an exciting and innovative range of museum and art-related merchandise and publications. It is operated by Abry Pte Ltd, an award-winning distributor and retailer of luxury, premium lifestyle and fashion brands. THE GREAT MISCHIEF City Hall Wing, Level 1 Mon–Thu 10am–10pm Fri & Sat 9am–11pm, Sun 9am–10pm
Inspired by Catalan influences, The Great Mischief takes the National Gallery experience to a multi-sensorial one, with strong visual influences from Antoni Gaudi’s distinctive Art Nouveau & Modern style in the furniture, and even in the plating of food. THE PUBLIC EIGHT Shopping & Dining
Supreme Court Wing, Level 1 | Tel: 6242 5590 Mon–Sat 6pm–midnight
This bar-cellar by Hachi Restaurant offers a selection of Japanese whisky and spirits, from Highball cocktails to fresh beer on tap, complemented by modern Japanese food. YÀN City Hall Wing, Level 5 | Tel: 6384 5585 Daily 11.30am−2.30pm, 6–10.30pm
Yàn offers diners the best in Cantonese cuisine. Their sophisticated and innovative signature dishes promise to tantalise your taste buds with diverse ingredients and familiar flavours. 37
GALLERY PUBLICATIONS
History and Imagination: Modern Photography from Singapore presents the works of four Singapore photographers: Tan Lip Seng, Lee Lim, Lim Kwong Ling and Lee Sow Lim. These amateur photographers were active members of camera clubs in the 1950s and 1960s, a period of rapid political and urban change in newly independent Singapore. Navigating the desire to document the emerging nation against the conventions of pictorial photography, this book uncovers how these photographers used different strategies to imagine Singapore, creating photographs that occupy a space between imagination and reality.
History and Imagination: Modern Photography from Singapore
HISTORY AND IMAGINATION: MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY FROM SINGAPORE Paperback | Approx. 116 pages | $37.45 (inclusive of GST) | ISBN: 978-981-18-0631-5 This catalogue presents the works of four amateur Singaporean photographers—Tan Lip Seng, Lee Lim, Lim Kwong Ling and Lee Sow Lin—who were active members of camera clubs in the 1950s and 1960s. Scholarly essays and full-colour plates trace how these photographers� images parallel and search for independence and the anxieties of modernity.
History and Imagination:
Modern Photography from Singapore
GEORGETTE CHEN: AT HOME IN THE WORLD Hardback | 208 pages | $53.50 (inclusive of GST) | ISBN: 978-981-14-4922-2 Georgette Chen is one of Singapore�s most significant modern painters. Across continents, through two World Wars, and two Chinese Revolutions, her commitment to her practice never waned. With over 70 full-colour plates and archival material, along with critical essays, this monograph brings new perspectives on her independent artistic voice and vital role as an educator in the development of modern art in Singapore. CHUA MIA TEE: DIRECTING THE REAL 蔡名智：映真 Paperback | Approx. 200 pages | $53.50 (inclusive of GST) | English and Chinese | ISBN: 978-981-18-0622-3 Through character, narrative and composition, visionary artist Chua Mia Tee goes beyond mere representation to construct iconic images of Singapore�s changing landscapes and its inhabitants. Alongside full-coloured plates and an essay are Chua�s writings collected together for the first time, bringing revelatory insight to a prolific artistic practice that started in the 1950s.
Chua Mia Tee. Road Construction Worker. 1955. Oil on canvas, 86 × 66 cm. This work has been adopted by Seah and Siak.
THE GIFT: COLLECTING ENTANGLEMENTS AND EMBODIED HISTORIES Paperback | 116 pages | $37.45 (inclusive of GST) | ISBN: 978-981-18-0923-1 | Published by Singapore Art Museum Focusing on ideas of inter-relation and exchange that manifest in history, geography and identity, this catalogue examines how the act of giving is performed, remembered and entangles. This exhbition is a dialogue between the collections of Singapore Art Museum, Galeri Nasional Indonesia, MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum and Nationalgalerie— Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, initiated by the Goethe-Institut. ANTONY GORMLEY Hardback | 100 pages | $31.20 (inclusive of GST) | ISBN: 978-981-18-1544-7 This catalogue for Antony Gormley�s most recent showing in Singapore features stunning full-colour plates of the installations, including the fifth Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Commission, Horizon Field Singapore. This publication also contains an artist�s interview, a curatorial essay, and a text by Ackbar Abbas, who continues his study into the situatedness of Gormley�s practice. 38
Photo courtesy of Lars Gundersen.
T I T L E I N F O RM AT I O N Tate Publishing
NAM JUNE PAIK Paperback | 176 Pages | $50.50 (inclusive of GST) | ISBN: 978-184-97-6635-7 | Published by Tate Paik played pivotal roles in the cross-germination of radical aesthetics and experimental practices, as well as in the proliferation of performative and collaborative art practices. In this book, works spanning Paik�s five-decade career, archival materials and artist�s writings offer insight into his vision. SOMETHING NEW MUST TURN UP Paperback | 116–160 pages | $26.75 (inclusive of GST) each This series of five books—Chng Seok Tin: Drawn through a Press; Eng Tow—the sixth sense; Goh Beng Kwan: Nervous City; Jaafar Latiff: In the Time of Textile; and Mohammad Din Mohammad: The Mistaken Ancestor—traces the individual journeys that these artists undertook as they strove to be continuously “new.” Essays, interviews, full-coloured plates and archival materials offer a comparative perspective of how artists critically engaged with the conditions of multiculturalism, developmentalism and modernisation in post-independence Singapore.
NAM EDITED BY • •
• •
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D E TA I L S October 2019 246 x 189 mm 176 pp c.120–50 colour illustrations c.20,000 words (excl. ends) 9781849766357 Paperback £25 Rights: World Exhibition: Tate Modern, London 17 October – 9 February 2020
CONTRIBUT
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam 14 March – 23 August 2020
Rudolf Frielin
Sook-Kyung
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago 7 November 2020 – 17 January 2021
John G. Hanh and media ar Rachel Jans SFMOMA.
SFMOMA, San Francisco 3 April – 5 July 2021
Susanne Neu the Museum
National Gallery Singapore 1 October 2021 – 16 January 2022
David Toop is culture and im
The Asian Modern
John Clark
THE ASIAN MODERN Paperback | Over 500 pages | S$58.85 (inclusive of GST) | ISBN: 978-981-14-0607-2 In this expansive study, John Clark, Emeritus Professor in Art History, draws on decades of his research on modern art cultures across Asia from 1850 to the present day. The Asian Modern uses an artist-centric approach, by way of meticulous case studies, to create a new comparative paradigm for the narration of art.
Tate Publishing, a division of Tate Enterprises Ltd Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 8869 Fax: +44 (0)20 7887 8878 www.tate.org.uk/publishin
FREE THE HONEST GUIDE TO SEEING ART #2 Available at Visitor Services Counter Packed with questions you have always wanted to ask in a gallery but just never did, this guide tackles the tricky questions on art methods and materials. PERSPECTIVES Our online weekly magazine for views, conversations, research and behind-thescenes insights. Visit nationalgallery.sg/magazine. ANOTHER INITIAL IMPETUS Our new mobile-friendly zine series explores the legacies of the Alpha Gallery in Singapore, an arbiter of its time. Visit nationalgallery.sg/zines. THE TAILORS AND THE MANNEQUINS This digital exhibition publication is the first in a series that will cover our new experimental project space, Dalam Southeast Asia (see p.20). Available from our website from 29 Oct. 39
TICKETI NG INFORMATION Tickets are required for admission into all exhibition galleries (including Law of the Land in the Chief Justice’s Office & Chamber) except the ArchiGallery and Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery. Purchase your tickets in advance at tickets.nationalgallery.sg and quickstart your Gallery experience by scanning your confirmation QR at our Pass Dispensers on arrival. Note: Not applicable to Concession tickets.
TICKET TYPE
S TA N D A R D
General Admission
$20
SCAN TO PURCHASE TICKETS
LO C A L*
FREE
T IFree C K Guided E T T YTours PE +
S TA N D A R D
LO C A L*
Nam June TICKE T T YPaik: P E The Future is Now
S TA$25 NDARD
LO$15 C A L*
$30
-
All Access Pass (General Admissions + Special Exhibition)
$5 OFF FOR CONCE SSION TICKETS:
FREE ADMISSION FOR:
• Children aged 7–12
• Gallery Insiders
• Seniors aged 60 and above
• Children aged 6 and below
• Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) excluding foreign personnel
• Local/locally-based students and teachers^
• Overseas students and teachers^
• Persons with disabilities (PWD) and their caregivers
* Rates for locals apply to Singaporeans and PRs. ^From qualifying institutions only. Valid verification is required. For latest promotions and ticket prices, please visit nationalgallery.sg.
GENER AL ADMISSION TICKET ADMITS ONE TO THE SE E XHIBITIONS: • Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real • Wu Guanzhong: Learning from the Master • Siapa Nama Kamu? Art in Singapore Since the 19th Century • Between Declarations and Dreams: Art of Southeast Asia Since the 19th Century • Law of the Land: Highlights of Singapore's Constitutional Documents • The Gift: Collecting Entanglements and Embodied Histories
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GALLERY INSIDER MEMBERSHIP Enjoy up to $120 from privileges such as unlimited access to our dynamic line-up of exhibitions, perks and discounts for selected programmes, unique museum merchandise and the Gallery’s culinary offerings!
JOIN NOW TO ENJOY THESE BENEFITS!
Unlimited access to all Exhibitions
Earn points with our Rewards Programme to experience more
Priority booking and discounts to selected programmes
Priority access to selected exhibits
Access to Gallery Insider-Only events
Shopping & dining privileges
MEMBERSHIP TYPE
S TA N DA R D
LO C A L*
Individual
$60
$30
Concession (Students/Seniors)
$50
$25
*Rates for locals apply to Singaporeans and PRs For more information, please scan the QR code below or email membership@nationalgallery.sg membership@nationalgallery.sg.
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Visit Us
SCAN TO SIGN UP
GENERAL INFORMATION For the latest updates on our Venues and Spaces, visit nationalgallery.sg/venue-rental.
VENUES FOR RENT Blending rich history with exciting modernity, the Gallery’s historical neoclassical architecture and unique spaces are ideal for hosting a variety of events from conferences to product launches.
SUPREME COURT TERRACE
THE NGEE ANN KONGSI AUDITORIUM AND FOYER
Built around the former Supreme Court’s Rotunda dome, old and new architecture merge perfectly in this captivating space. The terrace offers a sophisticated setting for events such as product launches, private receptions and seated dinners.
Nestled in the basement, this space features theatre seating layout with stateof-the-art audio visual equipment. An ideal venue for talks, seminars, screenings and recitals with a spacious foyer to host a cocktail reception.
ROOFTOP STUDIOS
PADANG DECK
Located on the Gallery’s tranquil rooftop, these versatile and air-conditioned rooms are designed to cater to a variety of events —from meetings to training and breakout sessions, or even small workshops.
Located on the rooftop, this open-air space offers spectacular panoramic views of Singapore’s skyline.
SCAN HERE TO BROWSE ALL VENUES
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OPENING HOURS Daily 10am–7pm General ticket sales end 30 minutes before closing time.
GETTING TO THE GALLERY BY BUS (Stops at Parliament Place) 195, 961
BY CAR Drop-off point for cars is located at Coleman Street entrance.
BY MRT 5-minute walk from City Hall MRT station via the Art Connector 10-minute walk from Clarke Quay and Raffles Place MRT stations
here are 200 parking lots on Levels T B2 and B3. Entrance to the carpark is only accessible via St Andrew's Road. Gallery Parking Rates Daily, including Public Holidays 7am–6pm $1.30 per half hour 6pm–1am $3.20 per entry $1.00 per entry for motorcycles
BY TAXI The nearest taxi stands are located at Coleman Street entrance of the Gallery and The Adelphi.
THE ARTS HOUSE
PICK-UP/ DROP-OFF POINT
NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE PARLIAMENT HOUSE SUPREME COURT LANE
THE ADELPHI
SUPREME COURT
ADDRESS: 1 St Andrew’s Road #01-01 Singapore 178957 ENQUIRIES: 6271 7000, info@nationalgallery.sg
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SUPPORT THE G ALLE RY The Gallery offers opportunities for you to enhance and cultivate your love for the arts. Your support helps us to build a world-class collection, pioneer original research, and develop our public programmes to bring art to a wider audience. BEST FRIENDS OF THE GALLERY (BFG) Contribute meaningfully to the Gallery and gain exposure to a wide range of roles in a visual arts institution by joining our BFG family. ARTWORK DONATIONS Artwork donations are crucial to the Gallery's mission to present Singapore and Southeast Asian modern art. All proposed donations will be carefully considered and endorsed by our Acquisition Committee. Ng Eng Teng. Mother and Child. 1996. Bronze, 350 × 310 × 150 cm. Gift of the family of the late Dr Ng Eng Teng.
ART ADOPTION AND ACQUISITION PROGRAMME Adopt artworks that are on display in our Singapore and Southeast Asian long-term exhibition galleries. We also welcome monetary donations to our acquisition fund. Donations go towards acquiring new artworks that strengthen our collection. Raden Saleh. Wounded Lion. c. 1838. Oil on canvas, 88 × 108.5 cm.
[ADOPT NOW] From just $50, you can “own” an artwork together with a group of like-minded art enthusiasts and build our National Collection for future generations. In addition to being acknowledged online for your contributions in perpetuity, you will also receive a digital artwork digital badge for every contribution made. Chua Mia Tee. Epic Poem of Malaya. 1955. Oil on canvas, 107 × 125.5 cm. This work has been collectively adopted by [Adopt Now] supporters.
PATRONS PROGRAMME Become part of a community of like-minded individuals who are looking for sustained engagement with the arts and want to support the Gallery. Our Patrons enjoy a year-long calendar of exclusive tours, artist dinners, opening receptions and behind-the-scenes access. EXHIBITION AND PROGRAMME PARTNERSHIPS Our exhibition and programme partners make art more accessible to the community while also increasing their brand awareness. Partnership packages can be tailored to your needs and include privileges like private viewings that are perfect for engaging clients and staff.
To find out more, please visit nationalgallery.sg/join-give or scan the QR code to contribute to giving.sg/national-gallery-singapore. All gifts made are eligible for tax deductions in accordance with IRAS guidelines. 44
National Gallery Singapore would like to thank our corporate partners for their generous support. Development Partner
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For details on partnership opportunities, visit nationalgallery.sg/support. 45
nationalgallerysg nationalgallerysingapore natgallerysg nationalgallerysg 新加坡国家美术馆
nationalgallery.sg 6271 7000, info@nationalgallery.sg
1 St Andrew’s Road Singapore 178957
