Arts Picks: Batik Nyonyas exhibition, Rattan Eco Sprawl art installation, Reflections Arts Festival
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Batik Nyonyas: Three Generations Of Art And Entrepreneurship follows the lives and careers of three visionary Indonesian batik-makers.
PHOTO: PERANAKAN MUSEUM
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Batik Nyonyas: Three Generations Of Art And Entrepreneurship
This 10-month exhibition on female batik masters charts the lives and careers of three visionary Peranakan women from Pekalongan, Indonesia.
Nonya Oeij Soen King was a pioneer in the 1890s as Pekalongan emerged as the leading batik-making centre. In the 1930s, her daughter-in-law Oeij Kok Sing became one of the top batik-makers and the only Indonesian artist who signed and date-stamped her batiks, while granddaughter Jane Hendromartono elevated batik to the realm of high fashion and established a successful export business in the 1980s.
Their story is told through about 200 objects, 60 of which are donated to Singapore’s National Collection by the Oeij family, produced between the 1890s and 1980s.
Visitors can experience tactile activities on the batik-making process and take part in a mobile quiz to discover their personal batik style. Results of the quiz will be revealed at The Batik Shop on Level 3, which is modelled after batik shops in Singapore and Indonesia.
Where: Special Exhibition Gallery, Peranakan Museum, 39 Armenian Street str.sg/8763
MRT: City Hall/Bras Basah/Bencoolen
When: Oct 11 to Aug 31, 2025; 10am to 7pm, Saturdays to Thursdays, 10am to 9pm, Fridays
Admission: $6 for Singaporeans and permanent residents, $18 for foreigners and free for children under six
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Rattan Eco Sprawl: Manifesting The Forest
Rattan Eco Sprawl by artist Zen Teh is the newest edition of the Tanjong Pagar public art trail commissioned by The Everyday Museum.
PHOTO: ZEN TEH
The newest addition to the Port/raits Of Tanjong Pagar public art trail, Rattan Eco Sprawl is created by 2021 Young Artist Award winner Zen Teh.
It is one of six public artworks featured on the art trail, commissioned by The Everyday Museum. The trail focuses on the space between Outram Park MRT station and Singapore Art Museum, with each work showcasing a different dramatic transformation of the district over several decades.
Constructed primarily from rattan, Rattan Eco Sprawl is set in a lush green spot in a quiet neighbourhood. Its wavy form incorporates natural elements such as mountains and mounds, and live plants around the exterior of the work reflect the entanglement of urban development and nature.
Where: Spottiswoode Park, Spottiswoode Park Road str.sg/mGGv
MRT: Cantonment
When: Till Dec 31, 2025; 24 hours
Admission: Free
Info:
Reflections Arts Festival
Reflection Arts Festival returns to Republic Polytechnic for its 2024 edition, which is themed Bhumi: Celebrating Earth’s Beauty Through The Arts.
PHOTO: REPUBLIC POLYTECHNIC
A combination of free and ticketed events, the Reflection Arts Festival by Republic Polytechnic includes concerts, performances and theatre productions by students. There is also a collaboration with The Purple Parade, a national awareness platform for people with disabilities in Singapore.
The 2024 theme of the annual festival, which has been running since 2007, is Bhumi: Celebrating Earth’s Beauty Through The Arts. In Sanskrit, bhumi means earth. It addresses pressing environmental changes and encourages sustainable practices in the arts.
Where: Various locations in Republic Polytechnic, 9 Woodlands Avenue 9 str.sg/ts8z
MRT: Woodlands North/Woodlands
When: Oct 15 to Nov 2, various times
Admission: Free and paid
Info:
Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that the 60 items are on loan from Singapore’s National Collection. The items are not on loan but are part of the Peranakan Museum’s collection, which is part of the National Collection.
