National Gallery Singapore

The National Gallery Singapore organizes exhibitions on a regular basis showcasing art in various ways and different formats.

Some of the most popular exhibitions at the National Gallery Singapore are "The Gift" which explores the complexity of art making and collecting. "Ever Present: First People's Art of Australia" which showcased over 170 masterpieces by Australian Aborigines and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Siapa Nama Kamu? Art in Singapore since the 19th Century"Siapa Nama Kamu?" means "What is your name?" This exhibition invites visitors to look at Singapore through its art.

Between Declarations and Dreams: Art of Southeast Asia since the 19th Century is another exhibition which is housed in the former Supreme Court building.

Listening to Architecture: The Gallery's Histories and Transformations traces the development of the City Hall and former Supreme Court buildings, from the origins to their dramatic transformation into the National Gallery Singapore.

City Hall: If Walls Could Talk is an extraordinary experience that takes you on a journey to explore the legendary stories of City Hall, showcasing Singapore’s amazing transition from a colony to a city-state.

National Gallery Singapore has a collection of more than 9,000 artworks by artists from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, The Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei. The Collection spans artworks from the 19th century to the present. The Gallery collects art from across the region in its efforts to explore the history of art.

The Nation Gallery’s Collection is part of Singapore’s National Collection. The Collection showcases the changing landscape of art in Singapore. A large part of the artworks in The Collection are showcased in the two long-term exhibitions of the Gallery, namely Siapa Nama Kamu? and Between Declarations and Dreams.

Learn more about the Gallery’s Collection from the extensive materials about it in the library and archives. These are accessible in the Gallery’s Rotunda Library & Archive.

The National Gallery Singapore has a fascinating Kids Gallery that features a whole range of educational and fun activities for kids. There are several galleries with specific facilities that will help children learn and discover art. The different Galleries are-

Keppel Centre for Art EducationWhich is a dedicated facility at the National Gallery that caters to families and kids. There are many programs lined up all year round where children can learn to discover art through creative play.

Exhibits and play areas are regularly refreshed to deliver new and exciting experiences.

The Keppel Centre features an Art Playscape where children get to explore interactive art. The exhibits in this section are refreshed periodically so children can enjoy new experiences.

Project Gallery features larger than life and whimsical arts which encourages children to let their imagination and creativity soar.

A Story Corner where kids sing, dance and listen to stories which are inspired by the artworks in the National Gallery Singapore.

Studio Workshops teach children different art forms such as origami, sculpting, and painting.

The National Gallery Singapore holds a wide variety of events, programs and workshops all year round. You can learn about the artworks in the National Gallery Singapore through these carefully curated events. These events and workshops include presentations on the Collection at the Gallery, live interactions with renowned artists, and experts in various fields related to art.

The National Gallery Singapore also features screenings of Southeast Asia's best audiovisual stories and variety of live stage performances. These include theatre performances and dance that are aimed at bridging the gap between art and life for people of all age groups.

Special events such as Gallery After Hours, cultural festivals, and other unique programs and performances are held on a regular basis at the Gallery.

The National Gallery Singapore organizes regular artistic programs and performances to help visitors learn about art and its significance in society. The Gallery works at developing several opportunities for visitors to see, learn, experience, and understand their exhibitions in a wide variety of ways.

The National Gallery Singapore creates new content collaborating with Singaporean, Southeast Asian, and international artists due to which the Gallery has gained stupendous popularity in presenting a variety of these historical and socio cultural responses.

The DBS Singapore Gallery at the National Gallery Singapore features over 400 artworks. These works of art illustrate the evolution of art in Singapore and showcase very early representations of what this exotic tropical paradise was like back in the 19th century. Over the years, this led to the emergence of the Nanyang art movement of the 1950s. This movement further led to the development of the contemporary art scene in Singapore.

The DBS Singapore Gallery has a long-term exhibition titled ‘Siapa Nama Kamu?’ which means What is Your Name? in Malay. This exhibition considers different the parameters that people use to relate to art and identity in Singapore.

The center of attraction in this Gallery is the oil painting National Class by Chua Mia Tee. The artist was awarded the Cultural Medallion, the highest official honor in Singapore given for art. The significance of this painting also lies in the fact that it was created in 1959, the same year Singapore gained self-governance from the British.

Discover the history of Southeast Asian art through the artistic trends common in the region at the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery. Starting from the 19th century, Southeast Asian art has been continuously evolving to bring about a balance between tradition and modernity. Artists seek to incorporate and to reinvent the artistic expressions of different genres and combine them with contemporary art. This shows how Southeast Asia has been a major crossroad of major civilizations, religion and a center of the struggles for independence and modernization.The Gallery showcases over 400 artworks by regional artists which have been taken from the National Collection and a few are on loan.

Some of the prominent artworks showcased here are 'Forest Fire' by Indonesian artist Raden Saleh, 'Spain and the Philippines' byJuan Luna. Epic Poem of Malaya by Singapore artist Chua Mia Tee which links to his other piece National Language Class at the Singapore gallery.

Art is a reflection of society, a nation's history, documents the nature of society and way of life. For many, art is a powerful platform to express emotions and faith. It brings comfort, relief and unites communities.

It is an ancient belief that Art has the power to heal. There have been several studies that have demonstrated that art has therapeutic benefits. Art can improve both physical and emotional health and enhance social well-being. Art is soothing and can provide solace, support and encouragement.

The Gallery continues to work at harnessing the power of art to create positive impact. The Art X Wellness at the National Gallery Singapore creates space for self reflection and opportunities to connect with friends and family. Its main objective is to show appreciation and boost the morale of fellow Singaporeans and to improve personal well-being.