Singapore, 11 November 2014 – Come 2015, the National Museum of Singapore will welcome a new sculpture on its premises – and it could be designed by you. In celebration of Singapore’s 50th anniversary of independence, the Museum has partnered with developer City Developments Limited (CDL) to launch its first open call for the concept submission of this special SG50 commemorative public sculpture. The project will see the commissioning and installation of a new artwork by an artist – Singaporean or Permanent Resident – at the open lawn located at the Fort Canning Entrance of the National Museum of Singapore.
Angelita Teo, Director of the National Museum of Singapore, said, “CDL has always been an active partner of the National Museum and shares with us a common vision of enlivening and cultivating the local arts scene. As the people’s museum, we are constantly looking for platforms to involve communities, to get them to contribute and participate in Singapore’s history and living heritage. We look forward to the creative outcome of this open call and believe that the final commissioned artwork will not only enhance the Museum’s space, but the lives of those who will come through our doors in years to come.”
Centred on the theme The Red Dot, Today & Tomorrow, the project calls for a forward- looking artwork that reflects the values of our national identity and conveys the aspirations and ambitions of Singapore. The site-specific sculpture, which will be unveiled in the last quarter of 2015, should also reflect the National Museum’s position as an iconic institution for our global city. Artists are encouraged to be creative in their concepts and interpretation of the theme, and are given the liberty to go beyond standard interpretation to employ various platforms, be it through traditional forms of art or newer forms of visual media. Ultimately, the commissioned artwork should enrich public’s understanding towards visual arts and enhance public’s enjoyment of the space.
Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer of CDL, said, “As a homegrown developer, CDL has always recognised the significant role we can play to transform the landscape. This goes beyond the buildings we develop, as building a unique persona and cultural legacy is equally vital for Singapore as a global city. For over a decade, we have supported our local artists by realising their creative aspirations as public artworks through the CDL Singapore Sculpture Award. We are excited to partner National Museum in creating an iconic sculpture that celebrates our heritage and cultural identity, as well as for the community to enjoy, today and tomorrow.”
The National Museum of Singapore currently houses seven specially commissioned artworks created by five Singaporean artists. The selected SG50 commemorative sculpture through this open call will be featured alongside the famous Pedas-Pedas installation, which is Singapore’s largest red pepper by artist Kumari Nahappan.