The Singapore Art Museum – Innocently Risque

What an incredibly beautiful day. The big fluffy clouds over the blue sky is gorgeous. I was tempted to lie down on the grass and just stare at the sky all day. It was a perfect way to spend national day.

After finding out that the entry to the Singapore Museums would be free on national day, I finally decided to visit the Singapore Arts Museum.

It has been so long since I’ve visited the museum that I don’t even remember the year when I visited it last.

But I still remember how beautiful the building was. The building was built at the year 1863, which explains the charming, colonial styled architecture. As I walked around the compound, I like to imagine how it was during those time.

Every turn was a peaceful, beautifully quaint sanctuary. It was easy to get lost in one’s own imagination. And then we go back to the realisation of the present time with the large and colourful banners which was decorated around the area.

Whilst inside, this charming display greeted me and as I walked up the staircase to see the gallery, I can’t help to notice the many wedding food recipes gracing the walls.

When I reached the second floor, there was a bustling of activity. I see children participating in a competition, roaming around the museum, looking for the next station to retrieve their clues. I also see couples and families walking, pointing to what catches their eyes.

I see this colourful canvas shoe display which was done by kids all over Singapore. This was to represent the diversity and uniqueness of Singapore.

I took my time taking in the views in the different galleries. The museum was segmented in different parts of South East Asia – I walked from Indonesia’s emotive expressionistic Affandi, to the peaceful works of Vietnam’s Le Pho.

But in the seemingly innocent museum, lies some memorable pieces. Gallery 2.10 housed contemporary South East Asian works. I saw many abstract arts as well as some very interesting ones.

I can’t help but to chuckle out loud when I saw a huge canvas of a painting of a man sitting on top of a toilet looking horrified as a woman looked in his cubicle. In the real painting, there is no woman covering the man’s bits.

But I think the highlight of the gallery was the video display of three different performance art. As I sat down and watched the show, my eyes nearly popped out at what I saw. Although the footage looked amateur and slightly grainy, the content was a little risque.

The first footage showed a many different people peeping in a kaleidescope and I heard suggestive human sounds. Eventually we find out what the curious view in the kaleidescope was and I felt a little uncomfortable, with the wide eyed young kids sitting beside me. But since their parents was right next to them, I guess it was their perogative.

The second footage showed a lady picking out random audiences to the platform and took off her apparel to be exchanged with the chosen audience. I think this particular performance was held in Vietnam. I doubt that the typical Singaporeans would be as daring to take off their clothing in front of everyone.

The third footage shows another lady asking some visitors to close their eyes while she puts her hands over them, but not touching the visitors. All I can think to myself was, “Huh? Is this art? Oh ok.”

Nevertheless, I did enjoy my tour around the Arts Museum. And the gallery certainly was a feast for the eyes and not to mention, an eye popper 😉

It was truly an enjoyable an lovely day.

Singapore Art Museum
71 Bras Basah Rd
Singapore 189555

You might also be interested in :

• Going to the Arts House
• The Museum of Shanghai Toys