Art in cities - why and how?

Why do cities today invest in public art? What should be its role? How is the collaboration between the art world and the field of city planning best organized? Join me on a trip to Singapore to find out!

- Maija Kovari

Architect, Artist - MSc (Arch), B.F.A. / Founder & Director, Public Art Agency Finland / maija (^-^) kovari . fi

Featured

Oct 30, 2016

Maija Kovari

Meeting with Franklin Po

Oct 30, 2016

Maija Kovari

Are there opportunities for artists inside the design field? - Well, it's up to us. Join the discussion with me and one of the most successful architects in Singapore, Franklin Po.

Oct 30, 2016

Maija Kovari

Oct 24, 2016

Maija Kovari

Meeting with the Public Art Trust

Oct 24, 2016

Maija Kovari

From tax incentives for developers, to creating moments for young local artists to shine - a look into the public art practices of Singapore with the Public Art Trust, an initiative by the National Arts Council.

Oct 24, 2016

Maija Kovari

Oct 22, 2016

Maija Kovari

Meeting with Tobias Baur

Oct 22, 2016

Maija Kovari

Why do we need art in urban areas? What is art for anyway? Would a vampire make a good urban planner?

... and other questions about art as part of urban planning and landscape architecture

Oct 22, 2016

Maija Kovari

Active mobility - a side note about bicycling in Singapore

Oct 12, 2016

Maija Kovari

Active mobility - a side note about bicycling in Singapore

Oct 12, 2016

Maija Kovari

Work in urban planning? Ever heard this? :

"Yes, it works in Amsterdam, but we have __________ , won't it be a problem?"

Join me and local experts in a discussion about biking in Singapore.

Oct 12, 2016

Maija Kovari

Oct 7, 2016

Maija Kovari

Who is writing this and why?

Oct 7, 2016

Maija Kovari

This research project on the public art scene in Singapore is an independent study conducted by artist & architect Maija Kovari (read her bio here), during October 2016. In this one month project, she will study the local public art on site and meet professionals in contemporary art and urban planning. The project has received funding from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland, and Greta & William Lehtisen Säätiö.

Oct 7, 2016

Maija Kovari

Have no idea about Finland / Singapore? Here are the basics

Oct 6, 2016

Maija Kovari

Have no idea about Finland / Singapore? Here are the basics

Oct 6, 2016

Maija Kovari

In general, both Finland and Singapore are highly developed, well maintained, law abiding and safe countries, with relatively small populations and high standards of living. The first time I came here, I instantly felt like home. Everything is just so practical and clear. But without getting further into cultural analysis, since there might be some who know close to nothing about the other country, here are some facts to put you on the map.

Oct 6, 2016

Maija Kovari

Oct 1, 2016

Maija Kovari

Why art in cities matters? My views on this

Oct 1, 2016

Maija Kovari

I feel very strongly, that in the future of our cities, not only functionality, but an ability to create meaning and a feeling of belonging will separate the cities that thrive from those that fall. I wonder, if art could be one of the solutions to creating cities that unite the increasingly culturally mixed populations, showing us our similarities and shared humanity? If so, how could both the art world and the world of city planning be better adapt for collaboration?

Oct 1, 2016

Maija Kovari

ON SITE Singapore has an abundance of public art old and new - here are some of my findings

click the photos to see the whole description

First Generation, by Chong Fah Cheong - possibly the most famous sculpture in Singapore, a group of boys playing in at the riverfront

A gorgeus new work, 24 hours in Singapore by Baet Yeok Kuan consists of five huge metal spheres with integrated sounds of ordinary everyday life in the city, a time capsule of sorts

I'd love to see more of detailing like this in cities

La Rencontre, by Etienne

Living World Series, by Ju Ming

Living World Series, by Ju Ming - Detail

Pavillion of Archifest Singapore

One of the many under passage paintings - these ones are the work of Social Creatives, a non-profit arts enterprise that seeks to promote art with a purpose

Boy with dog, resting on the riverbank

These underpass murals were designed by Raffles Design Institute. ‘Back to the Past’ depicts the trade and transportation activities that took place along the Singapore River

A life size sculpture of cats, almost unnoticeable - these depict Kucinta Cats, a Singapore street cat. They were once part of a group of 15 cat sculptures placed around the Singapore River

The same cats, as part of the river scenery

Dreams in Social Cosmic Odyssey, by :phunk studio, Alvin Tan, Melvin Chee, Jackson Tan & William Chan at the Circle line Promenade Station

Another examle of the variety of the artworks in subway stations of Singapore - still figuring out the name of the artist

I normally hate it when people put kids to work for their art but this won my heart - When the Ship Comes in by Lee Wen and dozens of local school kids, imagining ships at the nearby shores

Personal favourite - don't ask me why

Another nicely done detail

Graphic design art in subway station

Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, a British statesman, pictured at his first landing site to Singapore in the 19th century.

A sign at the Raffles landing site tells the story of the man seen as the founder of Singapore

In 2000, an art project by Lee Wen let people photograph themselves on the level of Raffels.

A nostalgic, 2014 commissioned sculpture by Lim Soo Ngee depicts a family enjoying a day on the Esplanade waterfront area.

The thinker keeps thinking - a 1998 reproduction of the August Rodin classic is situated near a business / commercial center.

To show my appreciation for temporary installations like this lighting of a bridge, I'm counting this as public art

Photos by Akkara Naktamna, as part of the Foto Festival, on show in a subway station corridor

Wall on a subway station

Bird, by Botero

The River Merchants by Aw Tee Hong

an uncommon sign next to a scuplture

Window of Hope by Sun Yu-li.

The sign next to Windows of Hope tells the story of the past generations

One of the many urban design elements bordering on public artworks

The pillars create the name of the station in this winning public art competition proposal at Harbour Front MRT station

One of the many statues featuring a Merlion, an imaginary creature seen as one of the symbols of Singapore - this huge one is situated on Sentosa island

Movement in sports - art at the Stadium MRT station

The construction of the Circle line included an extensive art program, featuring new works on every station - read more about it in the book "Art In Transit"