All You Need to Know About the National Gallery Singapore

What is National Gallery Singapore?

Hidden in the heart of the glitz and glamour of Singapore stands a cultural gem that deserves to be on the traveller’s must-visit list - the National Gallery Singapore, where art and history intertwine. The Gallery houses over 8,000 artworks from Singapore's National Collection, spanning the 19th century to the contemporary era. Some of the pieces showcased here include art by Chen Chong Swee, Georgette Chen, and Liu Kang, whose artistic brilliance has contributed to the cultural integrity of the nation. Beyond its expansive collection, the National Gallery Singapore also stands as a symbol of Singapore's rich history, values, and vision. 

Brief History of National Gallery Singapore

• The National Gallery Singapore, which now stands as a poignant symbol of Singapore's colonial history, was once the Supreme Court and the City Hall.
• This complex, collectively used to be known as the Municipal Building, was constructed and declared open on 23rd July 1929. When the city was occupied by Japan in the 1940s it was renamed as Syonan. The Municipal Building was responsible for its municipal administration, and the Supreme Court was repurposed as the Syonan Supreme Court. 
• In 1992, the city hall and the Supreme Court buildings were officially declared as national monuments. 
• In 2005, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed plans for transforming these buildings into the future National Gallery Singapore. 
• After 5 long years of construction, the gallery was declared open to the public in November 2015.

Architecture of National Gallery Singapore

The Studio Milou Architecture from France in collaboration with CPG Consultants Pte Ltd. designed the gallery. The design created by Studio Milou Singapore and CPG Consultants Pte Ltd for the gallery infuses modern architecture into historic elements, offering it a contemporary edge. 
The structures of the former Supreme Court Building and City Hall are linked through bridges that resemble trees, and the City Hall’s courtyard are encased in glass, with rooftop reflective pools to reduce the temperature.