WHERE ART TAKES SHAPE

Sky Mirror, which depicts an “oculus in the space” is a stainless-steel reflective artwork by renowned British Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor. Measuring 2.9 metres in diameter and weighing 1,800 kilograms, Sky Mirror appears to “bring the sky down to earth”, creating an optical illusion that the sky and its surroundings are within reach. Positioned at an angle of 30 degrees, Sky Mirror captures the beauty of the sky and a portrait of the iconic lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum.

A perfect illustration of the intersection between architecture and sustainability rendered at scale, Rain Oculus functions as both a skylight and a rain collector, where up to 22,000 litres of water flow through it every minute. At specific timings (10AM, 1PM, 3PM & 5PM), a whirlpool will form inside this 22 metre-wide acrylic bowl on level 1, with the water falling one storey through the hole in the centre. Rainwater collected through the Rain Oculus is used to fill the canal and is also used for water features in the hotel.

Explore another work by Sol LeWitt, who believed that a concept or idea could be an artwork, and that an artist could retain authorship even though proxies made copies of the work. Therefore, each drawing is accompanied by directions and a signed certificate that authenticates the work.

Created by Israeli sculptor Israel Hadany, Motion consists of two “islands” unit A and unit B, made of glass and stone. Each unit is fabricated from amorphously shaped glass plates, glued together to form large glass sections partly bordered by a Jura Beige stone bench. Placed at a distance from one another, Motion represents the movement of the river currents in relation to dry land, and its intention is to introduce nature into the architectural space.

Sol LeWitt’s wall drawings redefined traditional concepts about discreet works of art. The wall drawings are hand-painted, and due to their scale, they require the execution and supervision of LeWitt-trained artists. LeWitt is regarded as a leading proponent of Conceptual Art, which he famously explained by saying, “the idea becomes a machine that makes the art” — in this way, the artist conceives of art, which is then made by other hands.

Drift is a massive three-dimensional stainless-steel structure of over 16,100 steel rods and more than 8,320 steel nodes, created by British sculptor Antony Gormley. Weighing 14.8 tonnes and measuring approximately 40 metres long, 23 metres high and 15 metres wide, Drift is suspended cloud-like in the air between levels 5 and 12 of the atrium of Hotel Tower 1.

Artificial Rock #71 and #86 are abstract sculptures inspired by the scholar's rocks, which has for generations been held in high regard in China for its complexity and beauty. Zhan’s artificial rocks are highly reflective, allowing them to capture the rapid changes in their contemporary surroundings. Zhan’s mirror-like abstract rocks are not detached from the greenery, places of quiet contemplation, and modern buildings that surround them. In fact, their reflective surfaces embody the ever-changing views and developments around them.

This wall was designed by renowned environmental artist and sculptor Ned Kahn, who has a knack for designing interactive, kinetic sculptures where the elements of nature and weather alter the way the artwork behaves. With Tipping Wall, collected rainwater runs down a wall covered in 7,000 hinged metal channels, making them tilt left or right. The water spills down to a catchment area below and is recirculated upwards to pour down again.

Wind Arbor is the largest and most visible art installation at Marina Bay Sands, comprising 260,000 aluminium metal flaps that reflect light and ripple in the wind, evoking a sense of wonder and delight. The sculpture shields the building from sunlight with its stainless-steel net, keeping the building’s temperature low.

"Planet" by Marc Quinn is a striking bronze sculpture weighing seven tons, measuring 9m long and 3m tall. It depicts an oversized reproduction of the artist’s son, Lucas, as a baby. Masterfully balanced on the infant’s right hand, it creates the illusion of floating. Created in 2008, it debuted at the Beyond Limits exhibition at Chatsworth House and was later showcased at The Littoral Zone in Monaco.

When Singapore played host to the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010, City Developments Limited (CDL) worked in collaboration with Urban Redevelopment Authority and the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee to commission commemorative Olympic Games sculptures to adorn the scenic Marina Bay waterfront promenade.

One of two commemorative sculptures that resulted from the CDL Singapore Sculpture Award, A World United illustrates the unifying spirit of peace and sport through a stylised and dynamic depiction of sportsmen engaging in the 26 sports of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games.

The second commemorative sculpture that resulted from the CDL Singapore Sculpture Award for the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games, Breathe symbolises the peace and environmental consciousness shared by these nations and their united spirit for a truly sustainable global environment.

The two finished sculptures were publicly unveiled by then-Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, prior to the start of the Youth Olympic Games.

In the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton discovered the law of gravity. Legend tells us that the origin of this most important and fundamental physical law was initiated by the falling of an apple, represented in the present work by the ball falling from the right hand.

Salvador Dalí, one of the most important surrealist artists, takes the liberty to go even further in paying homage to Newton by opening up the torso of the figure and suspending the heart to indicate “open-heartedness”. The open head represents an “open-mind”. These are two necessary qualities for the discovery of important natural laws as well as for success of all human endeavors.

The bird is traditionally associated with peace and serenity. This three-dimensional Bird by Botero also signifies the joy of living and the power of optimism.

UOB believes that so long as there is peace and optimism among its people, Singapore will continue to grow and prosper.

Botero’s sculpture allows one the pleasure of caressing reality. There is a sensual complicity that the artist has with his creation which is shared with the public.

"24 Hours in Singapore" by Singaporean artist Baet Yeok Kuan is an interactive audio sculpture capturing the soundscapes of Singapore circa 2015. Acting as an audio time capsule, it preserves the rich intangible heritage of daily life, featuring sounds from suburban traffic and MRT trains to wet markets and coffee shops. Sponsored by the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore (REDAS) and commissioned by the Public Art Trust, this installation commemorates Singapore's 50th birthday as a highlight of the Jubilee Walk.

A plant’s life cycle begins with a seed. This contains an embryo that has the potential to grow. Once the seed is set in a place where it can merge with the elements of nature, germination takes place and the embryo, once dormant, comes to life.

Seeds are a recurring subject matter for sculptor Han Sai Por. Located at Esplanade’s Waterfront, Han’s four granite sculptures symbolise the germination of the arts on fertile ground.

Created by renowned American sculptor Richard Lippold, the Orchidea has been prominently suspended in the hotel atrium of PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, Singapore since 1987. Known for his geometric constructions and innovative use of wire, Lippold’s Orchidea pays tribute to Singapore’s national flower, the Orchid, blending in with the hotel’s biophilic nature. It is also an elegant symbol of prosperity, resembling a cascade of gold coins falling into open hands, reflecting good fortune for the hotel and its guests.

This imposing and majestic hanging sculpture in the center of the hotel lobby was created by Frank Stella, the aficionado of minimalism and abstract expressionism.

Titled “Cornucopia”, the sculpture weighs three tonnes and is made of fiberglass. Inspired by a sun visor, it was designed by Stella in New York, and manufactured by traditional boat makers in Cannes, France, before being shipped to the hotel.

In the hotel lobby, "Turbulence" by Rafael Barrios captures attention with its vibrant red, curved forms. Though it appears three-dimensional, it is actually flat, showcasing Barrios' Virtualism style. Standing over two meters tall, it sets a dynamic tone near the entrance. Barrios' work, known for playing with perception and form, embodies the feng shui element of fire, adding energy and elegance to the space. His sculptures are exhibited worldwide, challenging conventional ideas of form and space.

A 5-minute animation on a LED canvas of 450 panels featuring vibrant colours through dynamic movement and cutting-edge technology reflecting different phases of life as follows:

• Creation (Bubbles): The bubble effect depicts the sign of birth signifying life.
• Energy (Vivid colour-movement): The phase where we establish and build our social circle. Making friends, meeting colleagues all over the world.
• Vision (Kaleidoscope): The period where we come to our realizations where we build aspirations to plan our dreams.
• Reflection (Shelves / Achievements): The end, where you are seated at your comfort at home looking at your trophy gallery, all the achievements you have gained throughout your life.