Art in Transit is a programme for the seamless integration of artworks within the environs of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations. Approved by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in 1997, it was first unveiled to the public in 2003.
Description
Currently, the Art in Transit programme comprises 23 works of art by 27 accomplished artists, including four Cultural Medallion recipients. Their works are sited within a total of 20 stations on the North East and Circle lines, with the Circle line featuring somewhat younger artists than the North East line. Further artworks are scheduled to be included in the remainder of the Circle Line stations. Stretching across a large area of Singapore, Art in Transit has been described as Singapore's largest and most geographically extensive public art project.Description
History of Development
North East Line
In December 1997, the LTA issued a public invitation for expressions of interest in the Art in Transit programme on the North East Line, to which there were 83 respondents. Of the 83, 19 were eventually selected by the Art Review Panel, chaired by Ho Kah Leong, the principal of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. To ensure good working relationships, meetings were held between the individual stations' architectural teams and the artists to discuss the art concepts and approaches, as well as to determine the allocation of artists to specific stations.
Circle Line
Circle Line
In contrast with the North East Line, the artworks for the Circle Line Art in Transit programme were selected through a mix of competitions and commissions. The original plan was to have ten stations with works selected by a series of competitions, and 18 stations with works commissioned by the LTA as proposed by the Art Review Panel which was chaired by Kwok Kian Chow, Director of the Singapore Art Museum. The commissioned artists were recommended to the Art Review Panel by the programme's curator, Assistant Director (Curatorial) Karen Lim of the National University of Singapore Museum.
The competitions were very popular, attracting almost twice the number of entrants to the North East Line's public invitation for expressions of interest, possibly due to the prize money of $50,000, which significantly exceeds the $30,000 prize offered by the prestigious UOB Painting of the Year competition. Despite the large number of submissions, the Art Review Panel could not find any suitable work from the competition submissions for four of the stations, thus necessitating further commissions.
The completed phase of the Circle Line also includes the Art Seats, which will be featured on all the interchange stations on the Circle Line. The Art Seats were selected through the International Art Seats Design Competition, which was organised by the LTA and launched at the 10th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition in 2006. The jury of the competition includes prominent international designers Dick Powell and Toshiyuki Kita.
Significance
The competitions were very popular, attracting almost twice the number of entrants to the North East Line's public invitation for expressions of interest, possibly due to the prize money of $50,000, which significantly exceeds the $30,000 prize offered by the prestigious UOB Painting of the Year competition. Despite the large number of submissions, the Art Review Panel could not find any suitable work from the competition submissions for four of the stations, thus necessitating further commissions.
The completed phase of the Circle Line also includes the Art Seats, which will be featured on all the interchange stations on the Circle Line. The Art Seats were selected through the International Art Seats Design Competition, which was organised by the LTA and launched at the 10th Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition in 2006. The jury of the competition includes prominent international designers Dick Powell and Toshiyuki Kita.
Significance
Art in Transit is significant in that it endows each MRT station with a distinct identity and character, often derived from the cultural and historical life of the immediate neighbourhood. Methods employed include direct engagement with local residents, which may be seen in Seck Yok Ying's Hands Up for Hougang, featuring the handprints of 3000 people. Coupled with the placement of art in the spaces frequented by the public, Art in Transit encourages the appreciation of art by the general public, adding vitality and character to the experience of travelling by public transport.
As a whole, Art in Transit may be differentiated from earlier inclusions of art in MRT stations on the North South and East West lines, where, if present, artwork typically comprised paintings or freestanding sculptures; almost as afterthoughts to the overall station plans, which emphasised utility over aesthetic concerns. Art in Transit, on the other hand, was formulated through a joint effort on the part of the Art Review Panel, Architectural Design Review Panel, individual artists and the community at large, and coordinated by the Art Coordinator and Programme Curator, to produce relevant and engaging artwork, integrated seamlessly into the architectural finishes of the stations.
As a whole, Art in Transit may be differentiated from earlier inclusions of art in MRT stations on the North South and East West lines, where, if present, artwork typically comprised paintings or freestanding sculptures; almost as afterthoughts to the overall station plans, which emphasised utility over aesthetic concerns. Art in Transit, on the other hand, was formulated through a joint effort on the part of the Art Review Panel, Architectural Design Review Panel, individual artists and the community at large, and coordinated by the Art Coordinator and Programme Curator, to produce relevant and engaging artwork, integrated seamlessly into the architectural finishes of the stations.
List of Artworks
North East Line
NE1 Harbourfront: Enigmatic Appearances by Ian Woo
NE3 Outram Park: Memories by Wang Lu Sheng and The Commuters by Teo Eng Seng
NE4 Chinatown: The Phoenix's-Eye Domain by Tan Swie Hian
NE5 Clarke Quay: The Reflections by Chua Ek Kay
NE6 Dhoby Ghaut: Universal Language by Sun Yu-Li and Interchange by Milenko & Delia Prvacki
NE7 Little India: Memoirs of the Past by S. Chandrasekaran
NE8 Farrer Park: Rhythmic Exuberance by Poh Siew Wah
NE9 Boon Keng: Metamorphosis by Lim Poh Teck
NE10 Potong Pasir: Point of View by Matthew Ngui
NE11 Woodleigh: Slow Motion by April Ng Kiaw Ngor
NE12 Serangoon: Memories of Childhood by Eng Joo Heng
NE13 Kovan: The Trade-Off by Eng Tow
NE14 Hougang: Hands Up for Hougang by Seck Yok Ying
NE15 Buangkok: Water, Nature and the Contemporary by Vincent Leow
NE16 Sengkang: T.R.A.N.S.I.T.I.O.N.S. by Koh Bee Liang
NE17 Punggol: Water, Landscape and Future by Goh Beng Kwan
Circle Line
CC12 Bartley: The Coin Mat by Jane Lee
CC13 Serangoon: View of Life by Sarkasi Said
CC14 Lorong Chuan: Through the Looking Glass by Yoma Studio and A Dose of Light
CC15 Bishan: Move! by Soh Ee Shaun
CC16 Marymount: Superstring by Joshua Yang
Circle Line Art Seats
CC13 Serangoon: Matrix by Lui Honfay and Yasmine Chan Hoi Yin
CC15 Bishan: Rain by Lui Honfay and Yasmine Chan Hoi Yin
Author
Bruce Quek
DesignSingapore Council. (2006, September 6). Singapore Built & Unbuilt [Press Release]. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from http://www.singaporepavilion.com/2006/html/pressreleases/060906%20Spore%20VBIAE%20e.pdf
DesignSingapore Council. (2006). At a Glance 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from http://www.designsingapore.org/RunScript.asp?page=264&p=ASP/Pg264.asp
Land Transport Authority. (2003). Art in Transit Brochure. Retrieved July 8, 2009, from http://www.lta.gov.sg/public_transport/doc/Art%20in%20Transit%20brochure.pdf
Land Transport Authority. (2007). Circle Line Art: An Introductory Text. Retrieved June 19, 2009, from http://www.lta.gov.sg/circle_line_art/download/phase2_info.pdf
Land Transport Authority. (2008). Annex B: Summary of CCL Art-In-Transit Concepts. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from http://www.lta.gov.sg/images/News%20Release%20CCL%20AIT%20Annex%20B.pdf
Land Transport Authority. (2008). Circle Line Art In Transit Programme: Weaving art into public spaces. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1988
Tan, S. Y. (2003). Art in Transit. Singapore: Land Transport Authority.
The information in this article is valid as at 2009 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
References
Chia, A. (2008, August 21). Draw the Line; Stop and look before you go as the new $6.7-billion MRT line will be a charmed circle of art and design [Microfilm: NL 29459]. The Straits Times, Life!, p. 1-3.
DesignSingapore Council. (2006, September 6). Singapore Built & Unbuilt [Press Release]. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from http://www.singaporepavilion.com/2006/html/pressreleases/060906%20Spore%20VBIAE%20e.pdf
DesignSingapore Council. (2006). At a Glance 2006. Retrieved July 24, 2009, from http://www.designsingapore.org/RunScript.asp?page=264&p=ASP/Pg264.asp
Land Transport Authority. (2003). Art in Transit Brochure. Retrieved July 8, 2009, from http://www.lta.gov.sg/public_transport/doc/Art%20in%20Transit%20brochure.pdf
Land Transport Authority. (2007). Circle Line Art: An Introductory Text. Retrieved June 19, 2009, from http://www.lta.gov.sg/circle_line_art/download/phase2_info.pdf
Land Transport Authority. (2008). Annex B: Summary of CCL Art-In-Transit Concepts. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from http://www.lta.gov.sg/images/News%20Release%20CCL%20AIT%20Annex%20B.pdf
Land Transport Authority. (2008). Circle Line Art In Transit Programme: Weaving art into public spaces. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from http://app.lta.gov.sg/corp_press_content.asp?start=1988
Tan, S. Y. (2003). Art in Transit. Singapore: Land Transport Authority.
(Call no.: RSING q747.8531 TAN)
