Remember our previous feature on the artworks found along the North East Line (NEL)? We’re back and this time we’re covering the Circle Line (CCL)! Join us on our fascinating journey of arts appreciation via Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit system with the Circle Line, as we bring you a plethora of artworks and installations that will brighten up your daily commute!
Art-In-Transit: Unveiling Circle Line's art gems
LISTICLES
05 July 2024
By Benjamin “Mr Miyagi” Lee
1. Mountbatten
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Ever heard of a colour called Mountbatten Pink? Acting vice-admiral of the Royal Navy during WWII, Lord Mountbatten (affectionately known as “Uncle Dickie” to King Charles III), believed pink (Pantone colour #997A8D) was the most effective camouflage during dawn and dusk. Despite never being proven, it did, however, inspire artist Jason Wee to create "Lord Mountbatten Thinks of Pink," a photo series which depicts a ship during "pink hours."
2. Stadium
You’d have no doubt that you’ve arrived at a sporting venue once you come face-to-face with a series of floating human silhouettes. Roy Zhang’s artwork - “The Perfect Moment”- is meant to represent the beauty, energy and fluidity of the human body during sports. Grace, form and power are all captured in flight to form a dynamic set piece reminiscent of a dance recital in the air. All you need to do is to imagine the Kallang Roar echoing around the National Stadium.
3. Dakota
There was a tinge of sadness as we bade farewell to the original housing board flats in the Dakota neighbourhood. But as the area undergoes redevelopment, the artwork in the MRT station remembers the things in everyday life. This large artwork titled “Little Things, Little Stories”, created by the collective A Dose of Light features household objects found inside and outside residents’ homes, along the HDB flat corridors and other shared spaces.
4. Esplanade
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We expect nothing less than a tribute to the performing arts at this station since this is where many attend events at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. Revel in the last and largest work by the late wood-cut engraving artist Lim Mu Hue @ Lim Aik Lee as you travel up the escalators from the station platforms. This black-and-white piece pays homage to the history of Singapore theatre, presenting scenes of shadow puppetry and other performances across seven enlarged woodblock prints.
5. Promenade
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According to its creators PHUNK, “Dreams in Social Cosmic Odyssey” is an “illuminated celebration of our collective dreams”. Suspended under a skylight over escalators, the droplets playfully reflect rays and create a moving kaleidoscope on the station floors. These waves of light mirror the ebb and flow of commuter traffic and reflect the interaction of passengers in transit with the art piece.
6. Bartley
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From a distance, “Coin Mat” by artist Jane Lee looks like an ordinary mosaic. But the installation is actually a striking canvas of 164,800 one-cent coins that showcases Singapore’s visual heritage through the tiny Vanda Miss Joaquim orchids on these out of circulation pieces. Coins were used to pay for public transport in the past and still used today at ticketing machines. The varying tones and depths of copper reflect the different journeys that each coin has taken.
7. Bishan
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Mass movement is what you’d take away from these densely packed murals that depict Soh Ee Shan’s feelings about the mindless rush of commuters in a train station. The three fantastical murals at busy Bishan station depict daily life, family and the heartlands with a whimsical twist – students fly to school on rockets and animal-headed executives are rushing to work in a surreal world.
There are a total of 30 stations on the Circle Line, and all of them feature artworks commissioned by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and National Arts Council Singapore. Let us know which ones are your favourites, and stay tuned for our next edition of Art-In-Transit!
All images are credited to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
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