Exploring Singapore
Written by and Photography by Amanda Jaffe
Singapore’s Art Spaces Whether you prefer your art on the street, along a river, on the side of a building, or in a garden, Singapore has it. While its art trails allow you to combine art with a good walk, Singapore also offers first-class spaces where art lovers can be visually refreshed (or challenged), free of charge, with a little less exertion and a bit more shade. The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore On entering The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore, you’re greeted by “Cornucopia,” Frank Stella’s three-ton, hanging fiberglass sculpture. To your left and right, Dale Chihuly glassworks, “Sunrise” and “Sunset,” face one another from opposing ends of the lobby. This stunning collection’s highlights can be found across the hotel’s public spaces on Level Three. In addition to several other larger works,
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known artists. Located inside, on, and in the vicinity of Marina Bay Sands, these pieces blend audacious art with iconic architecture. Antony Gormley’s massive “Drift,” comprised of over 16,000 steel rods, hangs in the Atrium above the gargantuan ceramic vessels of Chongbin Zheng’s “Rising Forest.” Meanwhile, Ned Kahn’s kinetic pieces “Wind Arbor,” “Rain Oculus,” and “Tipping Wall” capture wind and water in their powerful and playful forms. Descriptions of the works and their locations are available online (search for the PDF using the term “Marina Bay Sands Art Path”). Combined with The Ritz Carlton collection, plan on an enjoyable two to three hours. Parkview Square Museum Parkview Square is another special building in Singapore, known for its unique art deco-inspired design. Parkview Square’s plaza and lobby feature world-class works by Salvador Dali, Fernando Botero,
"Cornucopia": photo provided by The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore
notably a pair of Stella wall sculptures (“Moby Dick,” on Level One), the collection includes other smaller pieces thoughtfully placed in the hotel’s public spaces across Levels One through Three. Expect to spend 30-60 minutes enjoying them all. A welldesigned Art Tour brochure is available from the Concierge (be sure to note Henry Moore’s “Floating Rock” sketches behind the desk) or online from the hotel’s website (in the “Hotel Design Inspiration” section of the Hotel Overview page). The concierge leads a complimentary art tour at 5 p.m. daily. Marina Bay Sands Art Path From The Ritz Carlton, it’s a short walk past the delightful artwork of Singapore schoolchildren at Youth Olympic Park (Singapore’s first art park) and over the Helix Bridge to the Marina Bay Sands Art Path, a collection of 11 installations by eight internationally -- 6 --
"A Rising Forest" vessel, Marina Bay Sands
Bamboo Telegraph - Mar/Apr 2020
