The National Gallery Singapore has announced the family of the late Ng Teng Fong, founder of Far East Organisation, as its fifth founding partner. The Ng family’s $20 million donation will contribute to the Gallery’s research, curatorial and exhibition work, with a focus on outdoor presentations of commissioned art.
To commemorate the partnership, the Gallery’s roof garden exhibition space located at Level 5 of the City Hall Wing will be named Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery. This Gallery will also feature the Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Commission series.
National Gallery Singapore CEO Ms Chong Siak Ching said, “The philanthropic contribution from the Ng family will boost our efforts in engaging more visitors with inspiring and differentiated art experiences. By taking exhibitions out of typical gallery spaces, we want to challenge talented artists to create thought-provoking pieces that will be presented against a canvas of lush greenery at the roof garden. This is one of the many ways that we will refresh the way that visitors experience art within the museum.”
The first Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Commission will be created by Danh Vo as part of the Gallery’s Imagining Southeast Asia programme. It will feature annual site-specific commissions by leading artists that relate to the curatorial narratives of the museum’s collections and permanent galleries. Vo’s art draws on his personal experience to explore broader historical, social and political themes. Most recently, Vo represented Denmark at Venice Biennale 2015.
The family of the late Mr Ng Teng Fong said, “Our family is deeply grateful for the opportunity to be associated with the National Gallery Singapore, an invaluable national heritage and an exciting new icon of Singapore’s evolving arts landscape.
“This gift is made in grateful thanksgiving to God for His grace upon the life of our father. We thank the National Gallery for naming the Gallery’s roof garden and exhibition series after our late father, as a meaningful way to remember him. It is our hope that the Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery and Commission will be an inspiring environment that brings art to all amidst a verdant green landscape.”
The roof garden is the result of restoration works to preserve the architectural authenticity and character of the former Supreme Court and City Hall. Spanning 3,000 square metres, the garden features a five-metre tall vertical green wall and overlooks the Civic District. The first admission-free exhibition at the roof garden is scheduled to open April 2016.
ABOUT NATIONAL GALLERY SINGAPORE
National Gallery Singapore is a new visual arts institution which oversees the largest public collection of modern art of Singapore and Southeast Asia. The Gallery is dedicated to collaborative research, education and exhibitions, highlighting the importance of modern art in Southeast Asia in a global context. The Gallery also provides a unique visitor experience through its art presentations and innovative programming, positioning Singapore as a regional and international hub for the visual arts.
Situated in the heart of the Civic District, the National Gallery Singapore has been beautifully restored and transformed from the former Supreme Court and City Hall buildings – two important heritage buildings of Singapore’s nationhood – into an exciting new visual arts venue. Opening in November 2015, the Gallery will be a leading civic and cultural destination established for the enrichment, enjoyment and engagement of Singapore residents and visitors from all over the world. Information on the National Gallery is available at www.nationalgallery.sg.
