National Gallery Singapore, Singapore

National Gallery Singapore, Singapore

The National Gallery Singapore serves as an art museum housing the largest public collection of art from Singapore and Southeast Asia in the world, boasting an impressive collection of over 8,000 artworks. Its mission revolves around fostering an understanding and appreciation of art and culture through various means, with a specific focus on Singapore's cultural heritage and its connections to other Asian cultures and the global art scene.

The gallery is situated within two historic national monuments, the former Supreme Court Building and City Hall, collectively spanning a substantial 64,000 square meters (690,000 square feet). This makes it not only Singapore's largest visual arts venue but also its most extensive museum.

Within its walls, the gallery predominantly showcases modern and contemporary art from Singapore and Southeast Asia, covering the artistic output from the 19th century up to the present day. Two permanent galleries, the DBS Singapore Gallery and the UOB Southeast Asia Gallery, house a remarkable collection that tells the evolving story of the region's cultural, social, economic, and political histories.

The cornerstone of the gallery's holdings is Singapore's National Collection, which ranks as the world's most extensive public collection of modern and contemporary Southeast Asian art. Originating with a generous donation of 93 works in 1976 by Dato Loke Wan Tho, this collection has grown significantly, encompassing approximately 8,000 pieces by 2010. The custodianship of this valuable collection now rests with the National Heritage Board.

National Gallery Singapore proudly exhibits artworks from prominent Singaporean artists such as Georgette Chen, Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng, and Liu Kang. Their contributions span a wide range of artistic forms, from early 20th-century paintings to contemporary video installations.

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National Gallery Singapore on Map

Sight Name: National Gallery Singapore
Sight Location: Singapore, Singapore (See walking tours in Singapore)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Singapore, Singapore

Create Your Own Walk in Singapore

Create Your Own Walk in Singapore

Creating your own self-guided walk in Singapore is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Singapore Introduction Walking Tour

Singapore Introduction Walking Tour

Malay legend has it that a long time ago the Sumatran prince, who sought shelter from a storm, ended up on the island of Temasek where he saw a strange animal believed to be a lion. He then founded a city there and named it Singapura which in Sanskrit means the “Lion City”. In the 14th century, Singapura found itself “between a rock and a hard place” when the neighboring realms of Thailand...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Colonial District Walking Tour

Colonial District Walking Tour

Singapore emerged as the British India Company's trading post in Southeast Asia in the early 19th century. The Colonial District of Singapore, also known as the Civic District, is a historical gem reflecting the island nation's colonial past. Spread across the banks of the Singapore River, the European-style buildings in the area attest to that period.

One prominent landmark here is...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Chinatown Walking Tour

Chinatown Walking Tour

Ethnic Chinese make up the majority of the Singaporean population. Therefore, it's no wonder that Chinatown is one of the top tourist destinations in the city. This vibrant and culturally rich neighborhood is steeped in history and tradition and is home to several iconic landmarks.

Undoubtedly, the most prominent of them is the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum, housing a sacred relic...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles

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