Experience the arts across four unique precincts with art around the city

Singapore, 7 Jan 2022 – 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 various 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.”

More information about the four activations can be found in Annex A and https://www.visitsingapore.com/festivals-events-singapore/annual-highlights/art-around-the-city/

About National Arts Council

The National Arts Council champions the arts in Singapore. By nurturing creative excellence and supporting broad audience engagement, our diverse and distinctive arts inspire our people, connect communities and profile Singapore internationally. We preserve our rich, cultural traditions as we cultivate accomplished artists and vibrant
companies for the future.

Our support for the arts is comprehensive – from grants and partnerships to industry facilitation and arts housing. The Council welcomes greater private and corporate giving to and through the arts so that together we can make the arts an integral part of everyone’s lives.

For more information on the Council's mission and plans, visit www.nac.gov.sg.

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About the Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is the lead development agency for tourism, one of Singapore’s key economic sectors. Together with industry partners and the community, we shape a dynamic Singapore tourism landscape. We bring the Passion Made Possible brand to life by differentiating Singapore as a vibrant destination that inspires people to share and deepen their passions.

Media Contacts:

Faith Leong
Manager, Communications and Marketing
National Arts Council
Email: faith_leong@nac.gov.sg
Contact: 6346 9648

Paige Lee
Senior Manager, Communications
Singapore Tourism Board
Email: paige_lee@stb.gov.sg
Or call the STB Media Hotline at +65 9011 2071

ANNEX A: PRECINCTS ART ACTIVATION DESCRIPTIONS FOR ART AROUND THE CITY

Art Around The City will run between January and April this year, and feature specially curated works from local artists. Key highlights include:

• The Forest Institute (Gillman Barracks, 14 Jan 2022 - 14 Feb 2022)
  The Forest Institute is a large-scale architectural art installation housing a research installation, comprising the Forest Observation Room, and the River Boardwalk, devoted to research on the forest surrounding Gillman Barracks. Conceptualised by Robert Zhao & Randy Chan, and curated by John Tung, the Institute is accompanied by several large-scale prints of fauna installed in its vicinity, exposing visitors to the different realities of the area.

• The Non Season (Design Orchard, 17 Feb 2022 - 10 Apr 2022)
  ‘The Non Season’ curated and presented by creative collective Hyphen BB led by May Leong, Becca D’Bus and Bobby Luo is a public art and lifestyle activation at Design Orchard. It features over 20 Singaporean/ Singapore-based artists and designers including the likes of Mike Chang, Divaagar, Aki Hassan, Marla Bendini and Kristal Melson taking over the interiors and exteriors of the Design Orchard building with visually impactful, humorous and topical art activations. These installations will be complemented by a series of multi-disciplinary programmes including workshops, panel discussions, live performances and heritage tours.
  
  STB has also partnered with the Textile and Fashion Federation (TaFF) to feature exclusive fashion and lifestyle merchandise – developed in collaboration with artists and local brands – that will retail at Design Orchard during this period.
  
  The Non Season encourages a rethinking of Orchard Road’s history and legacy, spurring renewed interest and curiosity in the area and its past.

• The Rangoli Movement (Little India, 21 Feb 2022 - 20 Mar 2022)
  Curated by Texture Media, the installation at Clive Street combines Indian music, dance, and art, providing visitors with an interactive and immersive experience. Visitors can look forward to a multi-sensory art showcase and experience the combination of audio-visual digital and physical art installations, with various workshop activities. Visitors are invited to dance, and through their movements and steps, create digital Rangoli art designs and explore variations of Rangoli art. Digital Rangoli art comes alive through larger-than-life sized projections. Rangoli art workshops are available during the exhibition with Therapeutic Sand Art Jamming Workshop hosted by Visual Arts Centre and Traditional Rangoli Art Masterclasses by the Guinness World Record holder for the largest Rangoli in the World, Vijaya Mohan.

• The Gathering (Chinatown, 25 Feb 2022 – 25 Mar 2022)
  The Gathering: 千岁宫 (Qiānsuì gōng) creates opportunities for an elegant gathering (雅集: Yǎ jí) within a pop-up garden in Kreta Ayer Square. Conceptualised by Singaporean artist Wong Lip Chin and curated by John Tung, the project takes inspiration from the winding stream parties (流觞曲水: Liúshāng qū shuǐ) first enjoyed by Chinese literati more than 1,600 years ago. Re-envisioning the experience for contemporary audiences of all faiths and cultures, an intricately constructed table with a winding stream feature serves as the main gathering place for tea-and-incense pairing sessions hosted by the artist.