Singapore: The Arts

Visiting culture vultures needn’t worry about artistic starvation in Singapore; indeed, the main challenge will be figuring out how to cram so much into a limited timeframe. Though once thought of as a cultural desert (‘New York City without artists’ was one less than charitable description bandied about in the 1990s), the Lion City’s cultural renaissance seems to be well underway; from galleries to museums, comedy to symphony, Singapore has something for almost everyone (as long as it’s not politically, religiously or sexually controversial!).
GALLERIES

In addition to having excellent museums – many of which we’ve listed in the appropriate neighborhood sections – Singapore is also home to myriad smaller galleries. Most galleries in Singapore keep casual hours of around 11am to 7pm, but some stay open later for various events. Published monthly and available for $3.90 at most bookstores, the Singapore Art Gallery Guide (www.sagg.com.sg) is an excellent resource for current happenings in the local arts scene. The following reviews are just a smattering of what you’ll find in Singapore.
ART SEASONS
6221 1800; www.artseasons.com.sg; 5 Gemmill Lane; Metro: Chinatown

You can’t miss this gallery, located as it is inside the distinctive architecture award-winning steel-and-glass building known locally as ‘The Box’. Art Seasons offers sculpture and painting, primarily that of artists from Singapore, China and Burma.
ARTOHOLIC
6348 7793; www.artoholic.sg; 422 Joo Chiat Rd; Metro: Paya Lebar, walk to Joo Chiat Rd, head south 6 blocks


This new venue over in the Joo Chiat neighborhood takes up the 1st floor of a beautifully renovated and retrofitted shophouse. In addition to doubling as a bar and a performance centre, Artoholic also showcases original works of some of Southeast Asia’s ultratalented painters, sculptors and print artists.
GAJAH GALLERY
6737 4202; www.gajahgallery.com; 140 Hill St; Metro: Clarke Quay or City Hall

One of Singapore’s most respected galleries, Gajah has been around since the mid-1990s, and specializes in contemporary art from South and Southeast Asia. The gallery hosts regular exhibits and forums; in 2008 Gajah played host to the International Buddhist

Film Festival.
KETNA PATEL STUDIO GALLERY
6479 3736; www.ketnapatel.com; 35 Jalan Puteh Jerneh, Chip Bee Gardens, Holland Village; taxi

Ketna Patel and her husband Jonathan run a home gallery best described as a ‘residential laboratory for like-minded people’. The studio’s specific goal is to promote dialogue between developed and developing nations, using art as the means of communication.

While the gallery is open by appointment only, like-minded artists visiting Singapore should consider contacting Ketna (ketna@ketnapatel.com) to find out about ongoing projects and happenings.
XUANHUA ART GALLER
6339 3836; www.xuanhuaart.com; 231 Bain St 02-71; Metro: City Hall


Dedicated to showcasing the finest works of contemporary Chinese ink painters from Singapore and China, Xuanhua also hosts exhibitions and other events. Lovers of sweeping charcoal-and-ink landscapes featuring the karst mountains of Guilin and other picturesque scenes of middle-kingdom splendor, this is the place for you.

MUSIC

Although not a musical city on the level of London or New York City, the Lion City does have a fair number of venues for concerts and other musical happenings.
ESPLANADE – THEATRES ON THE BAY
6828 8222; www.esplanade.com; 1 Esplanade Dr; Metro: City Hall


The 1800-seater state-of-the-art concert hall at the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is the home of the highly respected Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), but it also plays host to scores of music, theatre and dance performances. Check out their regularly updated website, especially for information on upcoming free shows and other programs.
SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA
6557 4034; www.sco.com.sg; Singapore Conference Hall, 7 Shenton Way; Metro: Tanjong Pagar


A performance by SCO, Singapore’s only classical Chinese orchestra, is definitely worth catching for anyone interested in Asian music. Befitting their position as an orchestra in multi-ethnic Singapore, the orchestra also plays Indian and Malay music.
SINGAPORE INDIAN ORCHESTRA & CHOIR
6340 549; 9 Stadium Link; Metro: Kallang

Under the baton of Mrs Lalitha Vaidyanathan, the SIOC performs classics from all over the Indian subcontinent on traditional Indian instruments such as the sitar and tabla.

FILM

Take an affluent society with a highly educated citizenry somewhat lacking in creative outlets and chuck it in the sweltering sun for 12 months a year and blammo, you’ve got the perfect recipe for country full of movie buffs. Singaporeans love to watch movies, and at around $8.50 per ticket, it’s great value. For screening times, check the Straits Times. Singapore’s cinemas are notoriously chilly places, so bring something warm to wear.
ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE
6737 8422; www.alliancefrancaise.org.sg; 1 Sarkies Rd; Metro: Newton

Screens classic and contemporary French films Tuesday at 8pm. Tickets are $8 for nonmembers. Check the website for screening times. The British Council (6473 1111; 30 Napier Rd; Metro: Orchard) has occasional screenings of British movies.
GOLDEN VILLAGE
6735 8484; www.gv.com.sg; 1 Kim Seng Promenade; Metro: Somerset


For the ultimate pampered cinematic experience, $25 gets you a ticket to this ‘gold class’ cinema on the 3rd floor of the Great World City mall. There are seats that can be reclined and adjusted with little levers, little tables for your food and drinks, and waiters who take your order. It also has regular theatres (some with huge screens) with normal-priced tickets.
PICTUREHOUSE
6235 1155; www.thepicturehouse.com.sg; levels 5 & 6, 2 Handy Rd; Metro: Dhoby Ghaut

The first ‘art-house’ cinema in Singapore, the Picturehouse is the place to go for screenings of independent films from A to Z. Check the website for screening times.

LECTURES & READINGS

All-night partying aside, Singaporeans are studious folk with great appreciation of didacticism; thus, it’s no surprise that even on a Saturday afternoon, scheduled lectures and talks on myriad subjects may wind up standing room only. Museums are the best places to catch a talk.
BOOKS ACTUALLY
6221 1170; www.booksactually.com; 5 Ann Siang Rd; Metro: Tanjong Pagar


Opened by three friends with a shared passion for books and located on the 2nd floor of a renovated shophouse south of Chinatown, this neat little bookstore holds poetry readings and open-mic sessions. Callor check the website for scheduling.

THEATRE

The Singapore Arts Festival (www.singaporeartsfest.com), which features many drama performances, is held in June. Music, art and dance are also represented at the festival, which includes the Fringe Festival, featuring plenty of street performances. Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay is one of the brightest spots in Singapore’s vibrant theatre and dance scene.
ACTION THEATRE
6837 0842; www.action.org.sg; 42 Waterloo St; Metro: Dhoby Ghaut

Set in a two-storey heritage house, this established theatre group shows local and international plays with contemporary themes in its small, 100-seat upstairs theatre and in the two open-air venues.
NECESSARY STAGE

6440 8115; www.necessary.org; B1-02 Marine Parade Community Bldg, 278 Marine Parade Rd;

Since the theatre’s inception in 1987, current artistic director Alvin Tan has collaborated with resident playwright Haresh Sharma to produce over 60 original works such as ‘Good People’, ‘Frozen Angels’, and ‘Top or Bottom’. Innovative, indigenous, and often controversial, the Necessary Stage is one of Singapore’s best known theatre groups.
SINGAPORE DANCE THEATRE
6338 0611; www.singaporedancetheatre.com; 2nd fl, Fort Canning Centre, Cox Tce; Metro: Dhoby Ghaut

This top dance company performs traditional ballets and contemporary works. The group’s Ballet under the Stars season at Fort Canning Park is very popular. There are regular classes in ballet, jazz ballet and Pilates.
SINGAPORE REPERTORY THEATRE
6221 5585; www.srt.com.sg; DBS Arts Centre, 20 Merbau Rd; g54 from Metro: Clarke Quay


Based at the DBS Arts Centre, but also performing at other venues, this theatre group offers up repertory standards such as works by Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, as well as some modern Singaporean plays.
THEATREWORKS
6338 4007; www.theatreworks.org.sg; Black Box, Fort Canning Centre, Cox Tce; Metro: Dhoby Ghaut

This is one of the more experimental and interesting theatre companies in Singapore. Theatreworks often performs at the Black Box theatre, as well as other venues around Singapore.

COMEDY

Despite the absence of a dedicated comedy club (the city’s only comedy club, 1Night-

Stand in Clarke Quay, shut its doors as this book was going to press), comedy is alive and well in Singapore. A number of venues host travelling comics, and Singapore is a major stop-over for touring stand-ups heading from England to Australia and New Zealand. Check local papers for listings of upcoming shows.

Singapore: The Arts