In the art world, much has been said about breaking away from the white cube (i.e. traditional art spaces like galleries and museums) – and National Gallery Singapore has done just that with their new initiative, The People’s Gallery.

With the aim of integrating art more seamlessly with the public’s everyday lives, The People’s Gallery brings artworks to more than 25 void decks across eight neighbourhoods. These include Bishan, Toa Payoh, Jurong West, Marine Parade, Serangoon, Pasir Ris, Punggol, and Yishun.

The artworks come to life primarily through AR (Augmented Reality) technology, and each void deck features up to 10 QR codes (something we’ve all come to be super familiar with, thanks to daily use of TraceTogether) which will be refreshed with different artworks four times over the three-month duration of the project.

Works shown in The People’s Gallery aim to offer the public fresh perspectives on contemporary Singapore and Southeast Asian art. Upon scanning the QR code, a microsite pops up, with several works complemented by multi-lingual audio guides and videos – personal stories about the artworks told by National Gallery Singapore workers.

The microsite is available in all of Singapore’s major languages, further emphasising this project’s egalitarian approach. For the exact locations and more details on this project, head here.

On now till November 30 

Architecture might come across as a realm strictly for those in the industry or are otherwise design-oriented but Archifest 2021, which opens October 1, is aiming to change that mindset.

Organised by Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA), its theme this year is ‘Design Evidence’ which is meant to reflect an inquisitive attitude towards how design and architecture – in all its various forms – play a role in all of our lives on a daily basis, whether we realise it or not.

This edition also sees the festival featuring more than 100 events that have been strategically scattered throughout the island – both as a result of social distancing measures – but also as a nod towards the festival’s aim of presenting and catering for a plurality of perspectives.

“Design Evidence is an invitation to debate, discover and redefine what architecture could be. We believe that bringing together a diversity of voices is a step towards a more inclusive dialogue. Archifest is curated by architects for everyone to enjoy – whether you are a designer or not,” emphasises Razvan Ghilic-Micu, Archifest 2021’s director.

Browsing through the list of events, there really seems to be something for every demographic. For those who like being outdoors, there’s a kayaking trip organised by the Singapore Institute of Landscape Architects to examine how landscape architecture intersects with the environment and sustainability. There are also ikebana workshops and Archifest on Screen – the festival’s complementary film festival.

And for the hardcore architecture crowd, check out the signature conference in which leading figures from around the world gather. This year’s line-up includes luminaries such as Rossana Hu of the acclaimed Shanghai-based firm Neri & Hu, as well as Singapore’s own Ong Ker Shing, principal of Lekker Architects Singapore.

Explore the full schedule here.

On now till October 31 

If you’re feeling particularly bummed over the increasingly suffocating atmosphere caused by the pandemic, the exhibition What Am I, If I Am Not is one you should check out.

Organised by mental health and art platform ThisConnect and supported by Beyond The Label SG, the show seeks to peel away the layers of masks we all wear in order to function in our daily lives. These layers of resilience – be it mental or physical – have undoubtedly been impacted one way or another by the pandemic and the exhibition presents five multi-media artworks.

Each work represents a different layer of stigma and the organisers hope they act as a catalyst to start conversations. For example, the experiential performative piece No Mud, No Lotus (pictured) invites audiences to reconnect with earth through the simple yet visceral act of walking barefoot on real soil.

Meanwhile, Masks of Singapore – a group of 500 masks created by 500 contributors – is a collective expression of what Singaporeans from various walks of life envision who or what they’d like to be – without all the usual societal constraints or judgement.

More details here.

On now till October 31 at 39A Duxton Hill