A common misconception is that you have to go to a museum or gallery in order to appreciate art. But National Gallery Singapore is out to prove that wrong. The gallery brings art closer to the heartlands by turning void decks into a gateway to art. The People's Gallery, which has been rolled out island-wide, has transformed more than 25 open spaces into galleries for the public to discover 50 surprising artworks by Singapore and Southeast Asian artists – using QR codes and Augmented Reality (AR) technology.
This initiative marks the Gallery's 5th anniversary – and aims to extend the positive impact of art to audiences beyond the gallery-hopping crowd away from the walls of the museum. The works selected, from an abstract figure painting titled Reclining Nude (undated) by Chia Wai Hon to Tan Lip Seng's striking photograph of Samsui women in Two Workers (1968 reprinted in 2017), aim to provide fresh perspectives on modern Singapore and Southeast Asian art.
But hold up, that's not the most exciting bit. The works of art pop up in AR, via an interactive microsite when the public scan the QR codes on the pillars of designated void decks. The works are accompanied by written labels, with several pieces complemented by multi-lingual audio guides (in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil) and Art in 90 seconds videos – personal stories about the artworks told by people of the Gallery.
Admission to National Gallery Singapore’s permanent exhibitions is also free for all Singaporeans and PRs.
Here are the locations of The People's Gallery:
Toa Payoh
- Blk 10 Toa Payoh Lorong 7, Singapore 310010
- Blk 130B Toa Payoh Lorong 1, Singapore 311128
- Blk 79C Toa Payoh Central, Singapore 313079
Bishan
- Blk 197 Bishan St 13, Singapore 570197
- Blk 261 Bishan St 22, Singapore 570261
Jurong West
- Blk 702 West Coast Road, Singapore 120702
- Blk 32 Teban Gardens Road, Singapore 600032
- Blk 617 Jurong West Street 65, Singapore 640617
- Blk 650A Jurong West Street 61, Singapore 640617
- Blk 701 Jurong West Street 71, Singapore 640701
- Blk 44 Telok Blangah Drive, Singapore 100044
Marine Parade
- Blk 79 Marine Drive, Singapore 440079
- Blk 99 Airport Road, Singapore 390099
- 8 Haig Road, Singapore 430008
Serangoon
- Blk 203 Serangoon Central, Singapore 550203
- Blk 92 Pipit Road, Singapore 370092
Punggol
- Blk 268D Punggol Field, Singapore 824268
- Blk 301B Punggol Central, Singapore 822301
- Blk 168 Punggol Field, Singapore 820168
Pasir Ris
- Blk 627 Pasir Ris Drive 3, Singapore 510627
- Blk 547 Pasir Ris St 51, Singapore 510547
- Blk 446 Pasir Ris Drive 6, Singapore 510446
Yishun
- Blk 257 Yishun Ring Road, Singapore 760257
- Blk 413 Yishun Ring Road, Singapore 760413
- Blk 204 Yishun Street 21, Singapore 760204
- Blk 701 Yishun Avenue 5, Singapore 760701
- Blk 841 Yishun Street 81, Singapore 760841
