Singapore Art Journey — An Art Trip Through 5 Museums and Galleries
Singapore Art Journey — An Art Trip Through 5 Museums and Galleries in Singapore
Singapore’s rich cultural heritage, shaped by the harmonious blending of many cultures, ethnicities, and religions, runs through its art world as well. From stately galleries and museums with high-caliber collections to hip street art and contemporary architectural design, you will encounter artistic inspiration everywhere you go in Singapore. Here are museums and galleries where you can experience not only the country’s historical and cultural value but also its creativity and modernity.
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In collaboration with *ASEAN-Korea Centre
* The ASEAN-Korea Centre is an international organization that promotes economic, social, and cultural cooperation between the government of the Republic of Korea and the governments of the 10 ASEAN member states. It was established on March 13, 2009, with the aim of expanding exchange and cooperation between Korea and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
National Museum of Singapore
National Museum of Singapore
Since it first opened in 1887 as the Raffles Museum and Library, the National Museum of Singapore has been a landmark symbolizing the country’s history and culture. The Neo-Palladian building underwent a long restoration beginning in 2003 and lasting three and a half years, which revived its architectural and aesthetic heritage, while a new wing added a contemporary dimension. Architectural highlights include the Rotunda Dome, decorated with Victorian stained glass, the Glass Rotunda added during the restoration, and the Glass Passage connecting the main building to the new wing. Inside, visitors can explore more than 700 years of Singapore’s history. The collection is wide-ranging, from archaeological artifacts to sculpture, decorative arts, paintings, and drawings, and even a recently added seat from Singapore Airlines’ first A380. The museum is currently undergoing a comprehensive renewal, scheduled for completion in 2025. During the renovation, only some of the museum’s galleries are open to visitors.
Opened: October 1887
Hours: Daily 10:00–19:00
Admission: 15 Singapore dollars
Address: 93 Stamford Road
Website: www.nhb.gov.sg/nationalmuseum/
National Gallery Singapore
National Gallery Singapore
Located in the Civic District, the starting point of modern Singapore, National Gallery Singapore is the country’s largest art museum and a major venue for the visual arts. Its mission is to offer a distinctive art experience, with an unrivaled collection and innovative programs, in a historic setting. The former City Hall and Supreme Court buildings, both designated national monuments, have been restored for contemporary use to present an extensive collection of Singaporean art and modern and contemporary art from Southeast Asia. In short, it is a place that embodies Singapore’s unique cultural heritage and artistic identity. The Singapore Gallery brings together works by leading Singaporean artists such as the watercolorist Chen Chong Swee, Georgette Chen, regarded as a pioneer of Singapore’s modern art, and Liu Kang, famous for his paintings of Bali. The Southeast Gallery focuses on art from the nineteenth century to the present. The museum also regularly hosts international touring exhibitions and special curated shows, and it runs the Keppel Centre for art education for children and teenagers.
Opened: November 2015
Hours: Daily 10:00–19:00
Admission: 20 Singapore dollars (includes a free guided tour)
Address: 1 St Andrew’s Road
Website: www.nationalgallery.sg
ArtScience Museum
ArtScience Museum
Located within the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort, the ArtScience Museum is a space that shows the fusion of science and art. The three-story building was designed by Israeli architect Moshe Safdie. Resembling a flower in full bloom, it goes beyond creative design to incorporate sustainable features. The roof is shaped like a lotus so that rainwater can be collected and reused, and each petal-shaped structure has a skylight to reduce reliance on electric lighting, among other building methods meant to minimize environmental impact. The museum stages exhibitions co-curated with renowned museums around the world on subjects such as particle physics, paleontology, marine biology, and astronomy. Since opening, it has also presented special exhibitions of world-famous artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Salvador Dalí, Andy Warhol, Vincent van Gogh, and Frida Kahlo. Its philosophy of curation shows in three permanent galleries: Curiosity, which poses a range of questions about science and art; Inspiration, which focuses on innovation in both fields; and Expression, which highlights the achievements that result.
Opened: February 17, 2011
Hours: Daily 10:00–19:00
Admission: Varies by exhibition
Address: 6 Bayfront Avenue
Website: marinabaysands.com/museum
Peranakan Museum
Singapore Peranakan Museum
This museum takes an in-depth look at Peranakan culture, which has permeated not only Singapore but all of Southeast Asia. Peranakan culture was rooted by descendants of Chinese, Indian, Arab, and other settlers in the Malay Archipelago, and it is one of the key elements shaping Singapore’s identity. That is why the Singapore Peranakan Museum is considered a must-see on any Singapore trip. The museum occupies an elegant eclectic-classical school building dating from 1912, and it reopened in 2023 after a major renovation. Its exhibitions present Peranakan culture through three engaging themes: Origins, Home, and Style. In some 800 items spanning crafts, fashion, furniture, and cuisine, you can see the intricacy and vivid colors that are the hallmarks of Peranakan style. Alongside special exhibitions introducing Asian design and art, the museum also holds a variety of events in collaboration with local communities to promote Peranakan culture.
Opened: April 2008
Hours: Daily 10:00–19:00 (until 21:00 on Fridays)
Admission: 16 Singapore dollars
Address: 39 Armenian Street
Website: nhb.gov.sg/peranakanmuseum
Asian Civilisations Museum
Asian Civilisations Museum
The Asian Civilisations Museum is one of Singapore’s national museums, with a focus on exploring the cultures of Asia in depth. It grew out of the collection of the Raffles Library and Museum, founded in 1887, and today holds a wide range of artworks and cultural artifacts from across Asia. Its exhibitions are organized around three broad themes: maritime trade, faith and belief, and materials and design. Highlights of the collection include artifacts from a ninth-century Tang dynasty shipwreck, Buddhist sculptures from Southeast Asia, Peranakan art and crafts, and Indian miniature paintings. The building that houses the museum is itself an important part of Singapore’s architectural heritage. Built in the Neoclassical style that defined Singapore’s early colonial architecture, it has been designated a national monument.
Opened: April 1997
Hours: Daily 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (until 9:00 p.m. on Fridays)
Admission: 25 Singapore dollars
Address: 1 Empress Place
Website: www.nhb.gov.sg/acm