intheART
intheART
Riot, Lim Hak Tai, 1955
More than 120 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures from the National Collection managed
by the National Heritage Board will chart Singapore’s journey to independence and the years that
followed this watershed moment. This selection includes the works of our key local artists, including Cultural Medallion recipients Lim Yew Kuan, Ong Kim Seng, and Georgette Chen. Their works
reflect the development of local art, culture and history and demonstrate the creative adaptation
of art styles such as social realism, post-impressionism, and abstract expressionism to the local
context. The exhibition covers two main themes, each drawing links to a different period in our
history as artists documented and engaged with changes in Singapore’s political, economic, social
and urban landscape.
Jalan Bukit Merah Blk 106, by Ong Kim Seng. 1972.
Construction of Sheares Bridge’ by Lai Kui Fang. 1967.
Whispers of
the Past
The National Museum of Singapore explores the nation’s dramatic transformation following World War II
through the eyes of local artists in its latest exhibition,
A Changed World: Singapore Art 1950s – 1970s. The
exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on our postwar period and listen to curator-led dialogues about
the works and how they connect to the political, social
and cultural situations of that era.

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Contexts and Conditions (1950s – 1960s)
The artworks in this section deal with questions of identity and national
consciousness as Singapore moved towards freedom from colonial rule,
self- governance and eventual political independence. The development
of art in Singapore has been inextricably tied to both its geographical
context and specific socio-political conditions. The context of migration
inspired pioneer artists to capture their impressions of local sights and social realities in their art, while engendering a regional consciousness that
included Malaya and Southeast Asia. Simultaneously, socially-conscious
artists grappled with themes of inequality and conflict as they documented the hardship of the nation and its citizens during these years.
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Emerging Modernities (1960s – 1970s)
Independent Singapore’s landscape and society were transformed by
industrialisation and urban development. Some artists celebrated progress and nation-building in their art, while others documented the harsh
changes to the physical landscape. The 1960s also saw the modernisation
of art as second generation Singapore artists – especially those who had
studied abroad – incorporated international influences into their work.
Modern, abstract art emerged, shaped by ideals of individualism and selfexpression. While abst raction arose inreaction to the more representational styles of the earlier years, it was also motivated by the same spirit of
experimentation pioneered by the first generation of artists.
Location:
National Museum of Singapore
Exhibition Gallery 2 | Basement | 93 Stamford Road | Singapore 178897
T 6332 3659
Admission
Free
10am-7pm (Last entry at 6.30pm)
‘Drying Planks’, by Chua Tiag Ming, 1960s.
Opening
October 25 2013 – March 16 2014
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