Singapore, artsy? You bet! Satisfy your appetite for art, while working up another with a walk – here are our picks on the Lion City’s top spots for art lovers.
1. Art Friend
First things first – unleash your inner Picasso and get crafty, Cathy. Stock up on feathers, felt, foam and more at Art Friend, a veritable candy store for designers, illustrators and hobbyists of all kinds. Combing through the rainbow-hued aisles is an experience in itself. The vintage Bras Basah Complex is also home to numerous book-themed murals in homage to the centre’s many bibliophilic shops as well as wall creations by local art students.
Bras Basah Complex, Blk 231 Bain Street, #03-33, 10am-7.30pm daily, artfriendonline.com
2. Room to Imagine
Tucked away in a Jalan Besar shophouse is this adorable female-founded indie art studio specialising in Acrylic Pour and Resin Pour Art workshops. Check out the schedule for public workshops, Cindy can also arrange private sessions. She also plays host to IMAGINE THE WORLD, another creative space with talks and artistic activities with her collective of local artists and artisans.
395 Jalan Besar, #04-01, by appointment only, roomtoimagine.sg
3. Objectifs
A bright, canary-yellow house is home to the Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film. Find inspiration through the carefully curated exhibits, artist talks, photography and film-making workshops, digital design courses, and more. There are also unique sessions for aspiring students in cyanotype printing, yantra cartography and floral artistry.
155 Middle Road, 12pm-7pm Tue-Sat, 12pm-4pm Sun, closed Mon and public holidays, objectifs.com.sg
4. STPI Creative Workshop and Gallery
Looking for Prints Charming? Look no further – this lovely workshop and gallery in Robertson Quay is a non-profit renowned in Asia for promoting artistic experimentation in print and paper, while playing host to a regular roster of visiting artists-in-residence. Pre-book a tour so you can fully appreciate the shows and learn more about the exhibits, artists and the studio’s different types of printing presses.
41 Robertson Quay, 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat, 10am-5pm Sun, closed public holidays, stpi.com.sg
5. Creamier Handcrafted Ice Cream & Coffee
Get out of the city and into the calm of Gillman Barracks. This contemporary arts cluster nestled in a green enclave. Before your art tour, a lick of hand-crafted, small batch ice-cream coupled with a dose of java should have you ready and raring to go.
5A Lock Road, 12pm-10pm Tue-Sun, closed Mon, creamier.com.sg
6. Gillman Barracks
Housed in former military barracks, you’ll find a mix of local and international galleries, the NTU Centre for Contemporary Art, and cafes and restaurants, all within walking distance from one another. The Sundaram Tagore Gallery and Mucciaccia Gallery are especially worth a gander, playing host to exhibitions by globally feted artists.
9 Lock Road, gillmanbarracks.com
ManulifeMOVE has no association with any of the landmarks, dining venues, galleries or retailers included within this walking guide, selected by LUXE, and disclaims any liability as to the accuracy, adequacy or reliability of any information contained herein.
Photo credit: Toni Cuhadi (Courtesy of STPI)
