Siapa Nama Kamu? Art in Singapore Since the 19th Century
By Marybeth Stock
After a decade-long project costing SGD 532 million (USD 369 million), the National Gallery Singapore (NGS) opened its doors in November 2015 as the first public museum in the world dedicated to the research of Southeast Asian modern art. The museum is currently holding two major, long-term inaugural exhibitions on the development of the art histories of Singapore and Southeast Asia. “Between Declarations and Dreams” (previously reviewed here) is an overview of Southeast Asian modern art from the 19th century, while “Siapa Nama Kamu? Art in Singapore Since the 19th Century” more specifically examines the art history of Singapore.
“Siapa Nama Kamu?” is Malay for “What is your name?” and references Singapore artist Chua Mia Tee’s iconic work National Language Class, painted in 1959—the year Singapore gained independence from British colonial rule. “Siapa Nama Kamu?” is being held in the 2,000-square-meter DBS Singapore Gallery at the NGS, where nearly 400 works are on display, grouped chronologically under several socio-historical themes, which are described below.
