The National Gallery of Singapore

January 6, 2026

Morning bus today to Singapore, with immigration clearance at the causeway between the two nations. Singapore was a small fishing village that became an entrepôt for international trade, attracting immigrants from China and the Tamil area of India, in addition to the local Malays. At the end of the British Colonial era, the ethnically heterogeneous colony chose not to join. Malaysia, instead forming its own city-state. There are four official languages: Mandarin Chinese, Tamil, Malay and English. Most people speak their natal tounge plus English.

Wandering to the National Gallery, there was a special exhibit on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. I viewed the general collections, emphasizing art depicting the history of Singapore. 

Raffles Hotel, home of the Singapore sling cocktail 

The Art Museum's architecture betrays tge buildings' origins as Colonial administrative centers 

I can see these at home 

View of Songapore, late 1800s

"Here they come," depicting efforts to close informal marketplaces in the 1960s

Teaching Mandarin 

From the resident Chinese community

Traditional marriage certificate

Commissioned scenes of Malaya, late 1800s

Cambodia propaganda painting, 1970s

Signs of the former use of the building

Ship design spanning the top of 3 apartment buildings