New public art trail features art benches by six Singapore-based artists located within key areas of the Civic District.

 

Pause and take a seat at dynamic art benches by six Singapore-based artists located within key areas of the Civic District. The new public art trail called Benchmarks is commissioned by the Civic District Alliance (CDA) and is accessible to the public from now till July 31, 2026.

These art benches serve as markers for visitors to take a breath and reflect on the history and cultural significance of the area. These benches inspired by punctuation marks that guide everyday conversations, and each artwork bench flows naturally from one to the other. The artists behind these benches include Lua Boon Kai, Joyce Beetuan Koh, Immanuel Koh, Yang Jie, Jeffrey Tan and Jason Wee.

Shared project curator for the first public art initiative within the Civic District, Justin Loke said, “The connections one makes with art through dialogue are extremely valuable. That is why I used a typographical device that is key to all conversations – punctuation marks – as a visual metaphor to kickstart dialogues with the remarkable Singapore-based artists we have onboard. I invited them to create playful works that not only respond to the site but also tell the rich heritage of the precinct. As a result, the artwork benches throughout the trail form a sentence within the visual narrative of the precinct. Each artwork leads seamlessly to the other, linking the different histories of the landmarks within the Civic District together.”

The art trail starts outside of The Arts House with This is Not a Bench by Lua Boon Kai, which aims to redefine preconceived notions of the form and function of a singular bench. It ends with two works situated around The Esplanade starting with Sayang! Satay Sayang! by Jeffrey Tan that pays homage to the now-demolished Esplanade Satay Club, inviting participants to gather once again to be transported back to the memories of the bustling food centre and the stories that lie within.

Finally, Jason Wee ends off the trail with #iykyk a series of five circular benches mimicking the Morse code for the letters in the initialism “iykyk” (if you know you know). With The Esplanade being known as a place of gathering for both young and old, the work serves as a playful double entendre, reflecting the challenges in intergenerational communication. The older generation being more familiar with Morse code and possibly less familiar with the meaning behind the initialism while the reverse being true for youths. The other areas highlighted in the trail include the Asian Civilisations Museum, National Gallery Singapore and Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall.

For more information, go to: https://artshouselimited.sg/civic-district.

(** PHOTO CREDITS: Arts House Ltd)