ART IN TRANSIT - MRT STATION SURPRISES

9/1/2015

My eyes were well and truly opened this week, as I took a fascinating Art in Transit tour organized through the AWA (American Women's Association), a fabulous women's group I am a member of here in Singapore.

Countless times I have used the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) system, but never really paid any attention to my surroundings, let alone noticed some of the amazing art found amongst it floors and walls. It was so interesting to learn some of the stories behind this art and the artists who created it.

Art Outreach Singapore who conducts these fascinating art walking tours, is a non profit organization with a mission to promote art awareness here in Singapore.

Our mission is to increase visual art literacy and to promote art appreciation in Singapore by offering an art education programme for primary and secondary school students, art events and presentations in the community, art tours for the public, as well as developing a body of well-trained and committed volunteers to serve as art advocates, providing a vital resource in the community. This is best encapsulated in our motto: “Art Education for the Community by the Community”.
Courtesy of Art Outreach Singapore

Our guide Tiffany told us we would be looking at art work in four stations along the North East (Purple) line, starting at Dhoby Ghaut.

The North East line was the first MRT line to have artworks installed in all it's stations. The artwork alone cost S$6.8 million. Some of these pieces are massive installations on walls, others unobtrusively integrated and etched into the floors.

DHOBY GHAUT STATION

A close up of a glass circle panel

The many escalators of Dhoby Ghaut

Artist: Sun Yu-Li

Round glass pieces adorn pillars at every entrance to Dhoby Gaut. The theme is Universal Language, from glass circles on pillars and walls, to patterns and mosaics incorporated into the floor depicting the hunter and the fish, to a massive wall mural, it was amazing to see this art that I must have walked by a hundred times, in a whole new light.

A Sun Yu-Li Mural

Artists: Milenko Prvacki and Delia Prvacki

As we walk further down into the station, we see beautiful mosaics on the floor fanning out from the escalators by Milenko Prvacki

Floor mosaic by Milenko Prvacki

We come to a massive wall mural covering two walls. This beautiful mosaic and ceramic tile art installation is a collaboration between Milenko, and his very equally talented wife Delia.
Entitled Interchange, this piece is situated in the link walkway between the two MRT lines, hence the name.

The mural starts out in a very soft way, very earthy and organic, this done by Milenko. Gradually we see a move towards a much bolder feel, this section done by Delia Pvracki. As you turn the corner, the piece incorporates massive square ceramic tiles, each individually created by Delia.

THIS SOFTER SECTION BY MILENKO

SOFTER DETAILS

BOLDER BY DELIA

BOLDER BY DELIA AND INCORPORATING CERAMICS

DELIA

And as we turn the corner, marvelous square ceramics by Delia, start out very bold, but then soften to shades of blue and grey.

CLARKE QUAY

Clarke Quay station is named after the 2nd Governor General of Singapore, Sir Andrew Clarke. The artwork here drew inspiration from the nearby Singapore river, and the hustle and bustle of life there in early Singapore, with godowns, traders and boats playing a big part.

As we exit the train at Clarke Quay station, we are shown an interesting feature incorporated into the floor. As discussions regarding the art installations were taking place between architects and designers in the planning stages, the Architects themselves became inspired. Etched into the floor is the shape of the Singapore River, and it's bridges.

Artist: Chua Ek Kay

This Chinese Ink Artist is responsible for the beautiful wall art here in Clarke Quay. His work usually done on rice paper, was reproduced onto vitreous porcelain in order to of course to be more hard wearing. Entitled The Reflections, the artist incorporates life around the river in old and more modern times.

Another piece by the artist is a beautiful brass wall panel, depicting the river in it's many moods.

Finally we see floor tiles painted to look like the eyes found on the Tongkangs, the Chinese Junk Boats which were prevalent on the Singapore River. The eyes, which of course come in pairs, are supposed to guide you through the station.

CHINA TOWN

Artist: Tan Swie Hian

As you step off the train here, we see a beautiful calligraphy piece etched into the floor. This is a poem by the artist Tan Swie Hian etched in striking black and white.

The translation of the poem can be found on the wall nearby.

As we move up to the concourse level, we see a colorful wall mural by the same artist entitled The Phoenix's Eye Domain. The flock of Phoenix, symbolizing prosperity and peaceful times. This mural also depicts the transition from early life in Singapore to more modern times.

OUTRAM PARK

Artist: Teo Eng Seng

These large muted wall reliefs entitled The Commuters, depict people in motion. The artist apparently had a particular love of fashion magazines which is also evident in his pieces.

One particular panel depicts a mobile phone, which of course has seen a lot of change since the time of the art's installation (2001). People in Motion is so apt in todays times, as people walk busily by, usually on their mobile phones. Sadly this also means they oftentimes miss the art completely.

Our wonderful guide Tiffany

THE COMMUTERS - TEO ENG SENG

MEMORIES - WANG LU SHENG

All of the stations have plaques describing the art installations and the artists. They are sometimes a little obscure, so you have to hunt for them, especially in the larger stations. Thankfully the ones in Outram were found as we exited the turnstiles.

Artist: Wang Lu Sheng

This graphic artist is responsible for the 9 circle art pieces installed at one of the entrances to the station. Entitled Memories, each circle with it's human head shape within, depicts every day Singapore life in a bold way.

THE WONDERFUL AWA LADIES WHO ENJOYED THE TOUR - PHOTO COURTESY OF BELINDA ZACK

All 16 stations along the North East line have art installations which I am now dying to see. Art in Transit also do walking tours of the newer Circle (yellow) Line, and as more stations on the Downtown (blue) line become complete, they will start conducting tours there too. This truly was a brilliant tour, which made me realize I really do need to pay more attention to my surroundings, and actually take the time to stop and look.

As I headed home after the tour, via the MRT of course, I took a look around Downtown, my closest station, the one that I walk through nearly every day. Sure enough, there was a beautiful leaf wall mural that I had never really noticed before, and an informative plaque to go with it.