The most iconic public sculptures in Singapore

Where: Outside Asian Civilisations Museum 

If you've ever taken a photo of yourself on these reflective spheres on the lawn outside the Asian Civilisations Museum, you're not alone. They're a unique addition to the lush greenery. But here's a fact you may not know: they are more than just one of the city's coolest Instagram props. These sculptures by Baet Yeok Kuan are interactive installations that act as an audio time capsule, capturing the sounds of Singapore. 

Where: Outside Fullerton Hotel 

You can find a number of Singapore sculptor Chong Fah Cheong's pieces around the city. Those familiar with his works will know that the pioneering sculptor works mostly with wood, bronze, and stone. One of his finest – and most popular – works is First Generation, which depicts five boys jumping into the Singapore River. This is a tribute to Singapore's past when coolies formed the backbone of the country's labour force. 

Where: Outside UOB Plaza 

It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's Fernando Botero's sculpture. Made entirely of bronze, this sculpture by the renowned Colombian artist has been a permanent presence along the Singapore River since 1990. According to the artist, the sculpture represents peace, serenity and joy – which is exactly what we need in the middle of the bustling CBD. Bird isn't Botero's only masterpiece in Singapore, though. You can find another one at the St Regis Hotel, as well as Parkview Square.  

Where: UOB Plaza Courtyard 

Just a few steps away from Botero's Bird is another piece by one of art's most prominent names: Salvador Dali. The unique sculpture is an artsy tribute to 17th century English physicist Sir Isaac Newton. Cast in bronze with dark patina, it was created to showcase Newton's decipherment of gravity. Look closely and you'll see a ball at the centre, suspended off the right-hand side of the statue, which represents a falling apple.

Where: The Meadows at Gardens By The Bay  

It's hard to miss this sculpture whenever you're at Gardens By The Bay. Seemingly suspended above the ground, the impressive bronze sculpture weighs a hefty 7 tonnes, is 9metres long and stands at 3 metres tall. Planet was actually inspired by Quinn's own son, Lucas, as a baby. It was created in 2008 and commissioned for the Chatsworth House, before making a debut in Musee Oceanographique in Monaco, before finally settling into its new home at Gardens By The Bay. 

Where: China Square Central 

Just outside China Square Central, you'll find this bronze statue by acclaimed Singapore sculptor Lim Leong Seng. It depicts an immigrant pulling a rickshaw, a common form of transportation in the early days of Singapore's development. The sculpture depicts a wealthy Peranakan lady setting off from home towards Jinriksha Station, portraying the divide between the rich and poor in Singapore's early days.  

Where: OCBC Centre 

One of the famous sculptor Henry Moore's largest works ever created, Recline blurs the line between abstraction and figuration. It utilises the play between positive and negative space, distorting what looks to be a female figure, reducing it to a fluid form that reclines in quiet contemplation by the water. 

Where: Outside OUE Downtown 

Another masterpiece by Colombian artist Fernando Botero – famous for his round, voluptuous sculptures – has probably caught your eye while you're walking in the CBD. Botero is known for drawing inspiration from diverse influences ranging from Renaissance masters such as Rubens and Velázquez to 20th-century Abstract Expressionists and Diego Rivera’s murals. 

Where: Ocean Financial Centre 

If you've been outside Raffles Place MRT station, chances are that you've seen this piece by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. Aptly titled 'Singapore Soul', It symbolically represents the cultural unity and harmony of different ethnicities in Singapore: such as the Chinese, Indians, Malays, and Eurasians. 

Where: Telok Ayer Green 

From a 75cm-tall bronze sculpture inspired by the late Lee Kuan Yew to one of a realistic Peranakan lady on a rickshaw, Lim Leong Seng's work can be found all over Singapore. One of which is Chinese Procession at Telok Ayer Green, which depicts immigrants who lived around the area in the 19th century. Five figures are portrayed carrying decorative flags and banners in a lively street procession for Mid-Autumn Lantern Festival. 

Where: Outside Singapore Art Museum

Standing tall outside the Singapore Art Museum is The Explorer by Cultural Medallion recipient Ng Eng Teng. One of Singapore's most prolific artists, his iconic artworks deal with aspirational humanist themes. The Explorer, made out of numerous globes stacked on top of one another, was commissioned at the beginning of the millennium in 1999, and ambitiously represents a desire for intergalactic exploration. 

Where: Singapore River, in front of Maybank Tower 

The bronze sculpture depicts the daily routines of merchants and labourers conducting business around the Singapore River in the 19th Century. Comprising two sets of figures, it features prominent merchant Alexander Laurie Johnston mediating between a Malay chief and a Chinese trader on one side, and coolies loading sacks onto a bullock cart on the other – a common sight around the river as trade expanded over two centuries ago. 

Where: Golden Garden at Gardens by the Bay 

Gardens by the Bay is a hotspot for impressive sculptures. This bronze-cast bull sculpture by renowned American sculptor can be found at the Golden Garden. Donated by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, The Magnificent Bull is a symbol of strength and vigour, representing Singapore's bullish economy.