Published on December 22, 2019
Singapore’s old City Hall and former Supreme Court have been fused into a single complex—the largest Museum in all of Singapore—dedicated to Southeast Asia’s most extensive public collection of modern art.
The National Gallery’s 8,000-piece collection includes artwork from the 19th century to the 21st, representing artists from Singapore and individual countries in Southeast Asia. Two permanent galleries (the DBS Singapore Gallery and the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery) use art to show how local and regional cultures developed over time. Visitors can take advantage of artist talks, lecture series, and guided tours to gain added insight.
The renovation of the two former government buildings cost US$391 million—a sum well spent, given the considerable care taken in preserving the structure’s authentic details. The City Hall and Supreme Court buildings played a significant role in Singapore’s history in the 20th century—and as the National Gallery, will serve to preserve it in the 21st and beyond.
