Art Installations in Singapore
4 Jun 2024
For a dose of creative inspiration, look no further than the captivating and scenic art installations at the Marina Bay Sands Art Path. Comprising 11 large-scale artworks created by 8 globally renowned artists, the Art Path is an amalgamation of creativity, innovation and craftsmanship that immerses guests and visitors in the unique perspectives of the artists. From light installations to intricate sculptures that showcase the artists’ finesse, visitors of Marina Bay Sands Art Path are bound to be blown away by the skill and artistic vision of the featured artists.
Marina Bay Sands Art Path
Launched in April 2010 when Marina Bay Sands first opened its doors to visitors from around the world, the Art Path began with 8 art pieces that were specially commissioned for the trail. Ned Kahn's Tipping Wall, Rain Oculus and Wind Arbor; Antony Gormley's Drift; Chongbin Zheng’s Rising Forest; James Carpenter's Blue Reflection Façade and Sol LeWitt's Wall Drawings #915 and #917 were the first 8 art pieces debuted by the luxury integrated resort.
Moshe Safdie, the world-renowned architect who designed the iconic towers of Marina Bay Sands, curated the featured artists with Marina Bay Sands’ architecture in mind. The art pieces complement his modern and avant-garde design, and served to enrich Singapore’s urban environment with contemporary artistry. The Art Path was launched with the government’s support as part of their efforts to integrate art into the city space and promote engagement with the arts among locals.
Today, the Art Path boasts a total of 11 large-scale art installations and pieces from internationally acclaimed artists and regular art tours are conducted for schools by the non-profit organisation, Art Outreach Singapore.
Art Installations at the Marina Bay Sands Art Path
From the artist’s vision to the creative processes behind the artwork, learn more about the individual artwork installations in the Art Path. Discover unique sculptures and art installations with this curated list of artworks around the Marina Bay.
Sky Mirror
Anish Kapoor, 2010
Start your adventure on the Art Path with this 2.9-metre sculpture made of stainless steel, weighing in at a hefty 1800 kilograms. Located among the tranquil waters of the Lily Pond, this substantial art installation was described by Kapoor as “bring the sky down to earth”, aiming to create an optical illusion that the sky was within the grasp of its viewer. The installation is strategically positioned at an angle of 30 degrees, allowing the Sky Mirror to reflect mesmerising views of the sky at dusk and the ArtScience Museum’s iconic structure.
Sky Mirror is located at ArtScience Museum, Lily Pond.
Tipping Wall
Ned Kahn, 2011
From the Sky Mirror, take a short walk towards the Hotel Tower 3. The Tipping Wall art installation is designed by environmental artist Ned Kahn, who specialises in creating interactive and kinetic structures that engage closely with natural elements. With over 7,000 hinged metal channels that tilt left and right when collected rainwater flows through, the eye-catching installation runs down to a catchment area underneath and is reused to continue the captivating spectacle of motion.
Tipping Wall is located at Hotel Tower 3, facing the Helix Bridge.
Wind Arbor
Ned Kahn, 2011
Facing the Tipping Wall is the Wind Arbor, another mesmerising piece by Ned Kahn. This wall art installation comprises 260,000 aluminium metal flaps that glisten when they catch the sunlight and flutter gently in the wind. Spanning across an area of 6,800 square metres, this artistic masterpiece is both beautiful and functional, keeping the building cool as it shields it from sunlight.
Wind Arbor is located at Hotel Tower 3, perpendicular to Tipping Wall
Drift
Antony Gormley, 2010
Enter the Hotel Towers via the entrance located beside the Tipping Wall and be greeted by the spacious lobby housing several art pieces, including Drift. Weighing in at a hefty 14.8 tonnes looming over the atrium of Hotel Tower 1, Drift is a colossal three-dimensional structure crafted from over 16,100 steel rods and over 8,320 steel nodes. Measuring approximately 23 metres tall, 40 metres long and 15 metres wide, the steel giant was created by British sculptor Antony Gormley and is suspended mid-air in between levels 5 and 12.
Drift is located at Hotel Tower 1, Atrium.
Motion
Israel Hadany, 2012
Nestled beneath the captivating Drift is Motion, an art installation that functions both as décor and a functional bench for guests to rest on. The artwork consists of two “islands” made from glass and stone. Light reflects off the glass, mimicking the glistening sparkle of light bouncing off the sea’s waves. The glass components are bordered by a Jura Beige stone bench, complementing the earthy and gilded tones of the Hotel Atrium.
Motion is located at Hotel Tower 1, Atrium.
Wall Drawing #917, Arcs and Circles
Sol LeWitt, 1999
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Hotel Tower 1’s reception area, head to Wall Drawing #917, Arcs and Circles located a stone’s throw away from Motion. One of two works by LeWitt, Wall Drawing #917, Arcs and Circles paid homage to LeWitt’s belief that ideas by themselves could be artworks, and artists could continue to assume ownership of work created by proteges or proxies. As such, both artworks come with directions and signed certificates that signify the authenticity of the work.
Wall Drawing #917, Arcs and Circles is located at Hotel Tower 1, Reception.
Artificial Rock #71 and #86
Zhan Wang, 2010
Within Hotel Tower 1, make your way to the Lions Bridge overlooking the Hotel Lobby, and observe the abstract sculpture of Artificial Rock #71 and #86. The sculpture is inspired by Chinese gongshi, which are naturally occurring rocks that scholars appreciate for their beauty. These rocks capture changes in their surroundings on their reflective surfaces, embodying the fluidity of their environment.
Artificial Rock #71 and #86 are located at Marina Bay Sands, Lions Bridge
Rising Forest
Chongbin Zheng, 2010
Comprising 83 larger-than-life stoneware vessels, Rising Forest lines the interior and exterior of the Hotel Atrium. At a height of 3 metres, each ceramic vessel took 15-20 days to craft and required a specially built kiln for the firing process. With every vessel containing a tree, the overall effect is a “canopy” that looms over visitors as they navigate the Hotel Atrium.
Rising Forest is located Marina Bay Sands, Hotel Atrium.
Rain Oculus
Ned Kahn, 2011
Walk towards Hotel Tower 2 and take the escalator down to B2 of The Shoppes, where the picture-perfect installation Rain Oculus acts as a skylight and rain collector. At certain times of the day, the installation transforms into a rumbling whirlpool with 6,000 gallons of water flowing down every minute. The resulting display is a striking spectacle that is best experienced from The Shoppes.
Visitors can cruise through the Canal on a Sampan Ride and circle the Rain Oculus for an exciting activity at Marina Bay Sands. If you’re lucky, you might just get to witness the waterfall up close.
Rain Oculus is located at The Shoppes, B2.
Wall Drawing #915, #Arcs and Circles and Irregular Bands
Sol LeWitt, 1999
Conclude your Art Path at Marina Bay Sands at Wall Drawing #915, Arcs and Circles, located conveniently beside Bayfront MRT Station. This wall art installation challenges longstanding ideas about art, assuming similar themes and ideas to Wall Drawing #917, Arcs and Circles. The bold and striking artwork uses acrylic paint as its medium, and was created with a group of artists selected by the Singapore Tyler Print Institute.
Wall Drawing #915, #Arcs and Circles is located at the underground pedestrian network connecting Marina Bay Sands to Bayfront MRT Station.
Other Art Installations in Singapore
Just opposite Marina Bay Sands is the city’s central business district, bustling with workers, tourists and those on a peaceful tour around the vicinity. Art installations are aplenty, and they are easily accessible one stop away by train to Downtown MRT Station and on foot.
A World United
Huang Yifan, 2010
A World United by Huang Yifan is located along the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade, beside the Red Dot Design Museum. Huang was commissioned to create A World United in 2010 to signify the union of peace and sport in a sophisticated portrayal of athletes in the 26 sports of the first Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.
A World United is located at Marina Bay, Waterfront Promenade.
Breathe
Edwin Cheong, 2010
A short walk away from A World United is Edwin Cheong’s Breathe, standing out from the city’s central business district with a series of sophisticated curves and slender, elongated lines. The art installation is a symbolic representation of the Olympic athlete maintaining his endurance with the simple act of breathing, mimicking the earth’s “breathing” process through forests and trees. Small light bulbs on Breathe’s structure light up at night, harnessing the wind energy captured by day.
Breathe is located at Marina Bay, Waterfront Promenade.
Progressive Flow
Han Sai Por, 2010
Han Sai Por’s Progressive Flow is minutes away from A World United, located at the NTUC Centre, a prominent skyscraper in the area. Six granite sculptures are scattered across the building’s walkway, blending in with its urban surroundings. Progressive Flow is an interactive outdoor art installation, where passers-by are invited to rest on the benches and enjoy a quiet moment of solitude.
Progressive Flow is located at NTUC Centre.
Embark on a leisurely stroll around Marina Bay Sands and snap the most Instagrammable spots in Singapore. Head to the top cafes in Marina Bay Sands and grab a refreshing drink to cool off, or refuel with a hearty sandwich that is sure to satisfy your hunger pangs. Sign up for a Sands LifeStyle membership to enjoy exclusive perks when you stay, shop and dine at participating outlets.
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