Art makes a splash by the bay

The Marina Bay Art Trail is a great choice for visitors hoping to admire some of the most fascinating interesting outdoor modern art sculptures in Singapore, the Marina Bay Art Trail is a good choice.

This is where you’ll see the artwork of celebrated artists and sculptors from Singapore and around the world, such as Han Sai Por and Roy Lichtenstein.

This art trail in three parts also lets you explore the area’s best sights, from the shopping in Marina Square, Millenia Walk and Suntec City to the iconic sights of The Esplanade and Merlion Park.

Marina Bay Art Trail
All venues are near the Raffles Place, Esplanade and Promenade MRT stations
Suntec City to Pan Pacific Singapore

Begin your art trail of the Marina Bay area at Suntec City, and head for the convention and exhibition centre. At the corner of Temasek Boulevard and Raffles Boulevard, you will see 1 Abundance III (1995), the giant bronze ring by Singapore-based sculptor and painter Sun Yu-li.

Then walk along Temasek Boulevard to the roundabout—you can’t miss the giant 2 Fountain Of Wealth . It is popularly believed that you'll receive good fortune if you walk around this outdoor fountain.

Then make your way to Millenia Walk, where the outdoor plaza contains the specially commissioned 3 Six Brushstrokes (1997) by Roy Lichtenstein. These giant, colourful Pop Art sculptures—blending Chinese calligraphy with western ideals—were among the celebrity artist’s final works.

Cut through Millenia Walk to get to the Pan Pacific Singapore hotel along Raffles Boulevard. This is where you’ll find the bold, almost sinewy stainless steel sculpture called 4 Deva (1986), by the famous American kinetic sculpture artist Lin Emery.

Marina Square Shopping Mall to Mandarin Oriental, Singapore

Head to the always-bustling Marina Square Shopping Mall and its rooftop walkway. Here, look out for 5 Continuum II (1986), an abstract, twisting sculpture made up of eight bronze pieces, by the American artist and architect Charles Perry.

Then walk to the front of the five-star hotel Marina Mandarin Singapore for the monumental 6 Between Sea and Sky (1986) by Belgian sculptor Olivier Strebelle.

Walk back into Marina Square Shopping Mall and follow the signs to Mandarin Oriental, Singapore. At this luxury hotel’s driveway sits 7 Fleur Marine (1984) by French artist Antoine Poncet. This bronze piece sits in the middle of a fountain, creating the visual illusion that it is rising from the sea.

Cross the street and stroll to Esplanade’s outdoor plaza, where you’ll see Han Sai Por’s 8 Seeds (1995) in granite, signifying creativity and the arts taking root on these grounds.

Merlion Park to One Marina Boulevard

After you’ve crossed the water along Esplanade Drive, walk to Merlion Park for some must-do photography of the mythical half-lion, half fish 9 Merlion (1972). This original sculpture in white concrete was designed by Kwan Sai Kheong, sculpted by Lim Nang Seng and commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board. Next to this is its smaller sibling, the Merlion cub.

From the Merlion Park, stroll through One Fullerton, a large dining and entertainment complex that comes alive at night. After passing The Fullerton Bay Hotel and the restored Customs House, you’ll get to OUE Bayfront where the Merrill Lynch office is situated. This is where you’ll spot the famous 10 Black Charging Bull (2008), by Anna C Spellini.

Next door is the skyscraper One Marina Boulevard, where six curved blocks in granite, weighing some 55 tonnes, sit at the corner of Marina Boulevard. This is 11 Progressive Flow (2004) by Han Sai Por, who created the sculpture so that visitors could rest on these blocks while taking in their design.

As you take a break, look across the street at the junction of Finlayson Green and Raffles Quay. You’ll see the last stop on this art trail, a kaleidoscopic pyramid made up of figures in painted steel holding hands. Created by David Gerstein, 12 Momentum (2007) honours the Singaporeans who have helped to build up this vibrant, world-class city.

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