BLOUIN ARTINFO has compiled a guide to make the maximum of your time visiting the Art Stage Singapore 2014, and also experience a bit of the vibrant city.
WHEN: January 16-19
WHERE: Marina Bay Sands Now in its fourth year, Art Stage Singapore plays up the fair’s Asian identity with a stronger than ever showing of galleries from the region, with 80% of its 100 galleries based in Asia-Pacific. Experience the art in context with a new curated fair format that showcases six country platforms - Australia, China, Japan, Korea, India, and Taiwan - and two regional ones - Southeast Asia and Central Asia. Cover image: Courtesy Art Stage Singapore website. It's an overview of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
The venue and official hotel for this year’s edition of Art Stage Singapore is also Singapore’s most iconic modern structure, with its unmissable (and vertigo-inducing) city view from the rooftop pool and lounge. Apart from its over 2,000 rooms, an art and science museum, a casino, numerous theater and night spots, retail outlets of top international labels and restaurants from the likes of Wolfgang Puck, Guy Savoy, and Tetsuya Wakuda, make sure you'll never need to travel far to experience the city.
10 Bayfront Avenue; Ph: 65-6688-8868
Fresh out of a renovation, this award-winning boutique hotel adds glamour to this stretch of conservation properties with its 73 stylish guest rooms –including a funky Warhol-inspired suite – and avant-garde uniforms by local fashion brand Depression. The best part: unwinding after a long day at the rooftop infinity pool, with its panoramic views of the city's skyscrapers.
41 Seah Street; Ph: 65-6403-6000
Housed in a historic 1930’s pier that overlooks the Marina Bay, the hip sibling of the grand old Fullerton Hotel boasts sumptuous, tactile public spaces designed by Hong Kong rising star Andre Fu. Rooms are luxurious and impress with its high windows, but the views are equally dramatic at elegant modern French restaurant Clifford, or at the rooftop Lantern bar.
www.fullertonbayhotel.comCourtesy
80 Collyer Quay; Ph: 65-6333-8388
Named not just for its location in the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, British chef Jason Atherton’s Singapore venture is also an offshoot of the Michelin-starred chef's London flagship, Pollen Street Social. Olive trees and tropical greenery are the setting for its Mediterranean-inspired dishes, such as almond gazpacho with crème fraiche sorbet and sudachi lime.
18 Marina Gardens Drive #01-09; Ph: 65-6604-9988
Housed in a glass-enclosed floating dome on the waters of Marina Bay, the dream team behind this Spanish gem includes award-winning culinary experts from the likes of elBulli, Santi, Drolma, and Sketch. Expect a mix of molecular and traditional flair, from deconstructed Spherical Olives to suckling pig sandwich Mollete De Cochinillo, complemented with creative mixology and live DJ sets on Wednesdays and weekends.
82 Collyer Quay; Ph: 65-6534-0886
This casual bistro in the hip Club Street precinct is centered on the concept of communal dining, hence its platter-based dishes, cooked by a different guest chef every four months. On rotation now are six innovative locally-inspired offerings from Jeremy Nguee of Preparazzi, such as its Maniac Meat Main Course (playfully nicknamed with the Singlish saying “Never Die Before”) of grilled Angus sirloin and roast chicken accompanied with smoky Nonya nut dish buah keluak.
42 Club Street; Ph: 65-6223-8048
Once the stronghold of Britain’s Middlesex Regiment, this former colonial era army barracks turned contemporary art center, is now home to 15 leading international galleries, including New York–based Sundaram Tagore; ShanghART from Shanghai; Berlin’s ARNDT, and Pearl Lam’s new space to openthis month. Pop-up event space The U Factory also runs several units featuring independent vendors from the categories of art, music, food, design and culture until the end of January.
9 Lock Road
Across the road from Art Stage Singapore's Marina Bay Sands home, this 250-acre oasis of greenery boasts 18 vertical-garden Supertrees reaching a height of 164 feet, two award-winning conservatories by Wilkinson Eyre Architectsbursting with seasonal blooms, a treetop bistro, and a twice-nightly Garden Rhapsody combining music with a laser show and stunning projections.
18 Marina Gardens Drive; Ph: 65-6420-6848
Exploring the theme, “If The World Changed,” the fourth edition of this Biennale showcases works by 82 artists, with a strong focus on Southeast Asian art. There are various venues in the arts and cultural precinct of Bras Basah and Bugis as well as at Our Museum @ Taman Jurong.
See the line-up here: www.singaporebiennale.org
This retail shop at Singapore Art Museum's 8Q wing is a good bet for unique, thoughtful gifts. Supermama also champions local design through its in-house label, Democratic Society. Don't miss its range of tableware with their distinct local motifs, made by historic Japanese ceramics maker Kihara.
8 Queen St; Ph: 65-9831-3691
Occupying two conserved shophouses in colorful Little India, pop-up store Temporium is cocktail of shopping, dining as well as workshop and exhibition space. A platform for homegrown brands and retailers to come together, it makes a perfect one-stop shop for local favorites such as fashion labels Sundays, Wykidd and By Invite Only, as well as dining offerings from coffee brewers Papa Palheta and Wild Rocket restaurant.
72 & 74 Dunlop Street; Ph: 65-6294-1139
