Linked by a striking aluminum and glass roof, Singapore's historic City Hall and the old Supreme Court building now form the city's stunning National Gallery. Its world-class collection of 19th century and modern Southeast Asian art is housed in two main spaces, the DBS Singapore Gallery and the UOB South East Asian Gallery. The former provides a comprehensive overview of Singaporean art from the 19th century to the present, while the latter focuses on the greater Southeast Asia region.
In addition, the Singtel Special Exhibition Gallery is home to temporary exhibitions, including key collaborations with some of the world's most prestigious art museums. Young culture lovers should not miss the Keppel Art Education Center at the National Gallery, which offers innovative multi-sensory art experiences for children.
The S$530 million National Gallery is a fitting venue for one of the world's most important surveys of colonial and post-colonial Southeast Asian art. Its many treasures include works by Singaporean greats Cheong Soo Pieng, Liu Kang, Chua Mia Tee and Georgette Chen, as well as luminaries such as Indonesia's Raden Saleh, the Philippines' Fernando Cueto Amorsolo and Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, and U Ba Nyan.
The complex includes fine dining restaurants and a gift shop that sells specially commissioned art books, designs and prints. The complex also offers daily guided tours, artist talks, lectures and workshops.