Singapore Insights

Built in 1852 by six La Salle Brothers, the Singapore Art Museum (6332 3222; 71 Bras Basah Road, Singapore 189555; Mon-Sun 10am to 7pm, Fri 10am to 9pm, Adult $8, Student $4, Child under 6 admits free, free admission on Fri night from 6pm to 9pm; http://www.singart.com/index.php; Dhoby Ghaut, City Hall) was a former school, named St. Joseph’s Institution, the first Catholic school in Singapore. It is one of the most elegant buildings in downtown Singapore today with a classical touch including a dome which has its design inspired by Bernini’s Colonnade in Rome and also blown glass installations by US artist, Dale Chihuly. When the St. Joseph’s Institution relocated in 1987, the building was gazetted and restoration works were done in 1992. In January 1996, the museum was officially opened. Greeting visitors at the porch is a bronze statue of 17^th-century saint John Baptist de la Salle with two schoolboys.

As you enter the main doors of the museum, the Glass House stands straight ahead of you. This is a multipurpose hall which you are able to watch and listen to various seminars, performances and exhibitioners. It resides inside a frameless glass enclosure, filled with brightly coloured artworks to display a contemporary image to visitors. Located on both sides of the Glass House are the Courtyards, which boost huge and idyllic spaces suitable for holding private functions or parties with a sophisticated style, enhanced by a water fountain to relax your senses. On the second level of the museum, directly atop the Glass House is the Auditorium which was formerly the school chapel. Most of the statues and artefacts were restored in detail, which included the original stained glass window destroyed during World War II, created by Filipino artist, Ramon Orlina (the first artist to carve figures out of blocks of glass using the cold method).

The whole Singapore Art Museum houses 18 exhibition galleries on three levels. The gallery spaces were created by removing the walls which had separated the various classrooms previously. The museum has an excellent collection of artworks from Singapore’s modern and contemporary arts industry as well as from visiting collections, ranging from classical Chinese calligraphy to contemporary artworks surrounding issues of Asian identity. There are over 4000 permanent artworks and visiting collections from artists like Alwin Reamillo and Li Chen, making the museum the largest catalogued collection of 20^th-century Southeast Asian art in Southeast Asia. Guided tours are available daily.

The Dôme cafe, hidden in a snug corner of the premises is also worthy of a stop to enjoy cool coffee.

-          Visit the art museum to understand the meaning behind certain artworks.

-          To see the dome with its design inspired by the Bernini’s Colonnade in Rome.

-          Experience the interior of the first Catholic school in Singapore.

-          Blown glass installations by Dale Chihuly.

-          Location is out of the way from the other museums and not of much interest to a non-art lover.

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