Art Around The City: Experience the arts across four unique precincts in Singapore

The National Arts Council (NAC) and the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) have partnered to launch Art Around The City, a series of visual art installations and programmes across key precincts in Gillman Barracks, Orchard Road, Little India and Chinatown. Drawing on their history, culture, and landscape, the public art activations will add vibrancy to each iconic precinct, engage with the public, and spotlight Singapore-based artists and curators.

Art Around The City, which runs from January to April this year, brings the identities of the four precincts to life. Each site-specific installation sits at the intersection of art, culture and heritage, to resonate and connect with each precinct’s community.

At Gillman Barracks, The Forest Institute presents a large-scale architectural installation by artist Robert Zhao Ren Hui and architect-artist Randy Chan. A culmination of four years of research, it elaborates on how nature co-exists alongside urban life. Visitors will be able to sign up for special programmes that include morning nature walks with the artist.

Hyphen BB curates and showcases The Non Season in a vibrant take-over of Design Orchard in Orchard Road that features a diverse range of artists presenting fun yet thoughtful installations and artworks. The artist list includes Howie Kim, Ee Shaun, Masuri Mazlan and others presenting mixed media artworks – within the store as well as window displays – inspired by the ecological and commercial histories of the Orchard Road precinct. The public can join various programmes by artists and retail collaborators featuring tours, exclusive merchandise, workshops, and performances.

In Little India and Chinatown, the public artworks will respond to the precincts’ unique culture and deep-rooted traditions. Singapore-based creative agency Texture Media invites the public to experience The Rangoli Movement, an installation incorporating the sounds and vibrant colours of Little India with master artist Vijaya Mohan.

At Kreta Ayer Square in Chinatown, The Gathering features Singapore artist Wong Lip Chin and curator John Tung recreating a teahouse set within a traditional Chinese garden that will serve as a gathering point for the public to take in tea and incense experiences.

Tay Tong, Director of Sector Development (Visual Arts) at NAC, said, “The series of art installations and activations at the key precincts enable art to be present in the urban  spaces where the public can experience art in different and appealing ways. We hope that the public art works will activate the imagination and encourage people to pay attention and perceive more deeply the environment that they occupy.”

Lim Shoo Ling, Director, Arts & Cultural Precincts, STB, said: “In line with our efforts to enhance Singapore’s destination attractiveness, STB continues to support a variety of experiences that contribute to Singapore’s leisure offerings and showcases our unique arts and culture heritage. We hope that both locals and visitors will enjoy the line-up of unique art experiences at “Art Around The City”, and take time out to explore and rediscover our precincts.”