FROM THE BOLD VISIONS BEHIND ITS MAKING TO THE CHALLENGES THAT HAD TO BE OVERCOME, ‘THE MAKING OF NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE’ CAPTURES THE WHOLE STORY.
The Making of National Gallery Singapore
Pauline Ang
National Gallery Singapore, 2015
Paperback, 168 Pages, 29 x 32 cm
978-9-81097-343-8
National Gallery Singapore brought some very big news to the contemporary art scene last year as it opened its doors to a brand-new and one of the most intriguing art galleries in Southeast Asia. Home to more than 8000 artworks, it oversees the world’s largest public collection of Singaporean and Southeast Asian art. National Gallery Singapore aims to facilitate an understanding of their society and culture, as well as its context within the world, through the use of art. Besides its vastly interesting collections, what lies behind its architecture and how it was constructed is an interesting element one should not miss as well. In this book, The Making of National Gallery Singapore, the stories of the City Hall and former Supreme Court, two buildings that came into play during the making of this prestigious art gallery, gradually unfold before our eyes. From its bold visions to the challenges they had to overcome, this large, well-designed book who has Singaporean publishing and design studio The Press Room behind its making, has everything covered. Divided into five main chapters, the story firstly finds its way all the way back to the 1930s as we commence at the beginning of the project by learning the history behind the two buildings and the master planning of Singapore at the time. The stories then begin to come closer, as we are told how the visions of Singapore’s leader were constructed and the design competition was established. Apart from its complete and beautiful rendering presenting the finalists’ projects and a set of remarkable photographs taken once the art gallery was finished, The Making of National Gallery Singapore also features a lot of engaging documentary images that capture the lives and process of the workers during the construction process. Plus, for those who would like to collect some fun memorabilia regarding National Gallery Singapore, the book also comes with 14 postcards that function as its wraparound cover.
text: Paphop Kerdsup
nationalgallery.sg
thepressroom.com