Internal Tourist - Arts

Travel Details:
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place MRT Station
Beside Asian Civilisation Museum


Decided to visit the Art House on a Saturday after my gym session… On my way, I saw the Asian Civilisation Museum again. Sigh when can I visit it (for free “p). That and the URA City gallery which is so near my office yet I’m still procrastinating.

As I pass by the Cavenagh Bridge, I caught sight of these little children statues trying to jump down the river haha.


I walked based on my instinct. Thus when I saw this grain sculpture, I was telling myself, this should be my destination. It is indeed not fun to get lost when there is a drizzle.

It is called the Golden Grain: Exposed! By Kumari Nahappan. It is a 3m tall grain pod.

The Art House which is originally a Parliament House since 1965 but was gazetted as a monument on 3rd July 1992.


Cosy place to relax hmm…


One of the exhibition I wanted to see is by Aware. And I like this artwork best!

Photographer: Jessica Yeo (20 year old)
As quoted: Beauty goes beyond skin deep. Beauty does not lie in just the eyes of the beholder. Often, when I photograph my friends, they shy away, saying they do not look good enough. So I finally managed to convince one of them to pose for this, and she agreed as her face would not be fully shown. In this photo, a beautiful rose in bloom is used, to represent the beauty that lies within, and outside, a bloom that is stunning, yet unknown or unrecognized by the world.

After seeing this work by a 20 year old student, I suddenly felt enlightened. The day before, I had followed a friend to her makeover session to see the process. And I had wondered if I should do a (personal) makeover once in my lifetime. Somehow after this, I felt there isn’t a need.

Another gallery is “A Point of View – asian sense” by Devendra Bisaria.


Then I’m off to find the white and original Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles statue

Before finding the black version.


I always wondered why there were 2 colours especially when my memory only contains the white version. I only realised today that the black version can be found in front of Victoria Memorial Hall and Victoria Theatre which happened to be my favourite place. I had a lot of memories here as I attended a couple of performances during my school days. Sometimes, I do wonder why I did not chose the arts scene… but then I know the reason why.


Then on my way back where I passed by more statues

e.g. the River Merchants by Aw Tee Hong which shows Scotsman, Alexander Laurie Johnston, a prominent merchant of early Singapore

Mediating between a Chinese Trader and a Malay Chief

Whilst Indian and Chinese coolies load sacks onto a bullock cart – a common sight around the river as trade expanded.

Caught sight of another sculpture… a sculpture that I never really gave much notice thinking it is just a big stone

.. till I realised the intricate carvings inside…

The sculpture is called Progress and Advancement by Yang Ying Feng.

Another sculpture in Raffles Place MRT area… very famous... very hard to miss...


Oh and the sculpture in Peranakan Museum. Guess what, I made another trip down just to take this photo because I wanted to see if the little girl is really pointing to the museum. Turns out, she was pointing to the eagle, or so I thought.

Travel Details:
Nearest MRT: City Hall MRT Station
Beside Fort Canning Park, Substation




Anyway I went back because I wanted to visit Substation. Founded in 1990 by the late Kuo Pao Kun, The Substation is Singapore's first independent contemporary arts centre.

Travel Details:
Nearest MRT: City Hall MRT Station
Beside Fort Canning Park, Peranakan Museum


I think I like the drawing better haha. Maybe it is the problem of the photographer aka ME!

They happen to have a gallery that day, so I took a peek.

Marisa Keller, Kelly Reedy & Julia Roberts presents Moving.

Before making my way to Timbre.

I had visited it on a Friday night with a couple of colleagues. Quite like the band especially the violinist. Food wise, we had pizza which was pretty good.

Travel Details:
No nearest public transport.  Super ULU, must drive.
At Seletar
140B Piccadilly
Singapore Flying Club


And while on the topic of “colleagues” and “food” and “Friday night”, I had just visited Sunset Grill with another group of colleagues on a Friday night again.. and this time we had buffalo wings and button mushrooms and main dish. It was the first time I had buffalo wings, and I must say level 1 is already a spiced version.. thus when I had level 6 (unwillingly because I lost the guessing number game and the guy had chose the only level 6 which was mixed in the plate of level 2 for me), it really left a different experience on me. Initially I felt nothing wrong because the chicken wing was cold but after a while, my mouth starts to burn… and when I reached home, I felt queasy haha. Luckily, I recovered fast the next day else there will be no Substation photos included in this post ;-)

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Internal Tourist - Club
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Internal Tourist - Palau Ubin and Changi
Internal Tourist - Southern Ridge
Internal Tourist - Museums
Internal Tourist - Arts
Internal Tourist - Arts Part 2
Internal Tourist - Asian Civilisation Museum