Gillman Barracks

 

Gillman Barracks opened its doors to the public on 15 September 2012. I visited the venue last Sunday afternoon with much anticipation.

 

  

Block '9' of Gillman Barracks

  

 Donna Ong (Singapore)

 

Zhang Enli (Shanghai)

 

 

Yayoi Kusama (Japan)

 

This was one installation I wouldn't want to miss. Talk about the hype over the collaboration between Yayoi Kusama (Japan) and Louis Vuitton's brand of products. (The Louis Vuitton-Yayoi Kusama Concept Store is now opened for a limited period of time at Takashimaya.)

Hyung Koo Kang (Mizuma Gallery)

 

 

Genevieve Chua (Singapore)

 

 

 Indie Guerillas (Equator Art Projects)

 

Block '47' has quite a distinct exterior compared to other blocks. It houses several galleries under one roof, including "Tomio Koyama Gallery" whose opening exhibition (15 September 2012 to 21 October 2012) showcases works by Yoshitomo Nara and 2 other Japanese artists.

 

This gallery of paintings left quite an impression on a lay person like me. It was beauty with a quiet, tortured sense of pain seeping through the works. "Beautiful pain" was an apt title for this exhibition by Luis Lorenzana (Philippines).

Perfection (Luis Lorenzana)

Serenity (Luis Lorenzana)

 

The gallery blocks are spread over quite a large area, so it would be good to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring along drinking water and an umbrella, if you are visiting the venue on a bright afternoon. 

 

Some people have wondered if the Gillman Barracks would become Singapore's own version of the Beijing 798 art district. I feel that at this point in time, both are characteristically different. There is probably much more potential to be seen in Gillman Barracks, especially with the opening of the Centre for Contemporary Art in the near future.


 

Gillman Barracks

9 Lock Road, Singapore 108793

Opening Hours (Free admission):

Tuesday to Saturday - 11am to 8pm

Sunday - 10 am to 6pm

(Closed on Mondays and Public Holidays)

Nearest MRT Station: Labrador Park Station

www.gillmanbarracks.com