Whether you’re an artwork junkie on a funds or are simply trying to get round city and join together with your environment whereas studying extra about Singapore‘s public art scene, these iconic sculptures are the way to go. From unusual to playful, make it a fun day out with your family, and don’t overlook to deliver alongside your digicam for some photographs for the ‘gram.
1. Culture and Harmony
Artist: Leo Hee Tong
Location: Stamford Arts Centre
Newly unveiled in 2022 is Culture and Harmony, a public artwork set up set in opposition to the façade of Stamford Arts Centre. The placing blue work depicts a sequence of dancers working towards varied kinds, from the classical Malay joget to modern breakdancing. The mural was co-commissioned by artwork patron Mr Tsai Eng Rung and the Public Art Trust (PAT) and was created by award-winning artist Leo Hee Tong, an alumni of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
2. The River Merchants, 2003
Artist: Aw Tee Hong
Location: Singapore River, in entrance of Maybank Tower
This bronze sculpture depicts a quintessential scene from the early days of entrepôt commerce in Singapore. Here, distinguished Scottish service provider Alexander Laurie Johnston mediates between a Chinese dealer and a Malay chief, whereas coolies load sacks onto a bullock cart (not pictured).
3. Progress & Advancement, 1988
Artist: Yang Ying Feng
Location: Raffles Place
This 4m-tall behemoth (which ideas the scales at a whopping 9 metric tonnes) is a stylised illustration of Singapore’s Central Business District, celebrating the development of town’s monetary sector.
4. First Generation, 2000
Artist: Chong Fah Cheong
Location: Near Cavanagh Bridge, in entrance of The Fullerton Hotel
Created as a part of a sequence, this playful public artwork set up depicts 5 boys leaping into the Singapore River. It represents Singapore’s first-generation immigrants and the pivotal function that the river performed of their lives as a supply of enjoyable and leisure.
5. Jelly Baby Family, 2012
Artist: Mauro Perucchetti
Location: Plaza Singapura
Reminiscent of outsized gummy bears, these quirky, vibrant characters depict a childlike innocence. The artist sees them as an embodiment of the preciousness of household unity and the multiculturalism of contemporary society.
6. From Chettiars to Financiers, 2002
Artist: Chern Lian Shan
Location: Singapore River, close to the Asian Civilisations Museum
This sculpture embodies the assorted monetary establishments of olden-day Singapore. Financial enterprise arrange their workplaces close to the Singapore River to be near the world’s many buying and selling homes. In this sculpture, the determine seated on the low desk represents a South Indian chettiar (moneylender), whereas the second determine within the center portrays a Chinese clerk. The determine on the suitable, within the tailor-made jacket, depicts a dealer.
7. Bird, 1990
Artist: Fernando Botero
Location: UOB Plaza
Undoubtedly one of the vital famend public artwork installations in Singapore, the rotund, squat and outsized Bird by the Colombian artist represents the enjoyment of dwelling and the ability of optimism.
8. The Rising Moon, 2015
Artists: Han Sai Por and Kum Chee Kiong
Location: Esplanade Park
This granite and metal edifice is an summary illustration of Singapore’s nationwide symbols – the 5 stars and the crescent moon – in addition to a meditation on nationhood. It was commissioned to commemorate Singapore’s Jubilee Celebrations.
9. 24 Hours in Singapore, 2015
Artist: Baet Yeok Kuan
Location: Asian Civilisations Museum
At first look, these seem like random stainless-steel spheres. Upon nearer inspection nevertheless, you’ll discover that they operate as an auditory time capsule. They emit audio recordings of on a regular basis life in Singapore – from blaring site visitors within the heartlands to spirited chatter in moist markets.
10. Homage to Newton, 1985
Artist: Salvador Dali
Location: UOB Plaza
This summary bronze sculpture by the world-renowned Spanish Surrealist is, as its identify suggests, a tribute to Sir Isaac Newton. The ball in the midst of the determine’s torso purportedly represents a falling apple, alluding to Newton’s discovery of gravity. The bronze determine additionally symbolises having an ‘open-heartedness’ and an ‘open-mind’.
11. Dual Universe, 1994
Artist: Charles O. Perry
Location: Singapore Land Tower
Resembling two intertwined determine eights, this summary sculpture doesn’t have any literal that means; relatively, it’s an natural results of Perry’s interpretation of arithmetic and artwork.
12. Planet, 2008
Artist: Marc Quinn
Location: The Meadow in Gardens by the Bay
Also often called the “floating baby” , this eye-catching painted bronze sculpture measures some 9 metres lengthy is 3 metres tall. It is an outsized copy of the British artist’s personal son, Lucas, as a child. Donated to the Gardens in 2013, the burden of the sculpture is masterfully balanced on the toddler’s proper hand, creating the phantasm that it’s floating within the air.
Photography by Kamal Tung except in any other case said
This article was initially printed on 31 May 2019 and up to date on 5 January 2023.