Dan Graham, Elliptical Pavillion, 2017

Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd and Nanyang Technological University have launched the “Mapletree-NTU Centre for Contemporary Art Singapore (“NTU CCA Singapore”) Public Art Education Programme”. The programme, a collaboration between Mapletree and NTU, is the first of its kind in Singapore where NTU CCA Singapore will assist Mapletree to feature a series of new public art installations, as well as develop and establish art education programmes at Mapletree Business City to bring the arts closer to the communities.

The “Mapletree-NTU CCA Singapore Public Art Education Programme” aims to enrich the communities’ urban experience through engaging public art works by leading artists. It includes guided tours, artist talks, workshops and conferences, as well as the development of online learning resources.

Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Mapletree said,

“This unique collaboration underlines our commitment to art which is one of our corporate social responsibility key pillars. It also signals the importance of corporate partnerships in contributing significantly to cultural vibrancy and sustainability in the urban environment. Complementing the commissioned art pieces, the Public Art Education Programme reinforces our holistic efforts to showcase artistic talent and excellence.”

Yinka Shonibare, Wind Sculpture I, 2013

Commissioned by Mapletree, the new art installations which nestle in Mapletree Business City II (“MBC II”) are the works of internationally renowned artists namely Dan Graham (United States), Zulkifle Mahmod (Singapore), Tomás Saraceno (Argentina/Germany), and Yinka Shonibare (Nigeria/United Kingdom). The public artworks will be permanently showcased at MBC II from the fourth quarter of 2017.

MBC II boasts the tallest high-rise business park development with extensive lifestyle facilities within the Alexandra Precinct and is in close proximity to Singapore’s contemporary art cluster, Gillman Barracks, which is also home to NTU CCA Singapore. This collaboration enhances the community space and amenities at MBC which was designed for tenants and visitors to relax and interact. It also enhances the property’s appeal and quality of business engagement in this community.

Themed “Culture City. Culture Scape.”, the project is curated by Ute Meta Bauer, Founding Director, NTU CCA Singapore, and Professor, NTU School of Art, Design and Media; and Khim Ong, Deputy Director, Curatorial Programmes, NTU CCA Singapore. The Centre plays a key role in identifying artists, as well as developing an academic and public outreach programme to broaden and deepen engagement and appreciation.

This collaboration also enables a newly established professorship on public art at the NTU School of Art, Design and Media which underscores the commitment to provide education for new generations of creative practitioners in understanding and engaging the built environment in innovative and thoughtful ways. This dovetails with NTU CCA Singapore’s postgraduate degrees in “Spaces of the Curatorial” and in the new M.A. in “Museum Studies and Curatorial Practices” co-taught with NTU’s School of Art, Design and Media, providing specialised training in these fields in Singapore.

The Mapletree-NTU CCA Singapore Public Art Education Programme expands the field of experiencing contemporary art. Professor Bauer said, “To experience art in our daily environments, the places we live and work, is as important as to see art in galleries or museums. To feature artworks in public space means to collaborate with artists, public and private commissioners, and diverse audiences in a more immediate and direct way in order to create different experiences of both: the arts and the urban every day, if done well, it is rewarding for everybody involved.”