Sunday, September 19, 2010

5 Art Galleries @ Tanjong Pagar Distripark


It unbelieveable that there are art galleries in there, right? Due to the media blast on the art galleries in The Straits Times, I decided to check out the place.


Erm... not much of a gallery look.... The Tanjong Pagar Distripark is afterall a warehouse. When i first arrived, i couldn't make head or tail where the entrance to the building was and where i could find the passengers lifts. all i could see was the loading and unloading bay for trucks and huge cargo lifts. when i got up to the 2nd level where the galleries are located, i saw these weird small doors that were opaque and looked like entrances to offices, not art galleries.

But........... ta-dah!



It's kinda magical when you open the doors and see the vast white spaces behind the door that is filled with all those colours and images. i like it. amazing contrast! the art pieces that are showcased are also quite different from the usual galleries and the art museum. They showcase emerging artists instead of established ones. One of the galleries displays Australian indigenous art and they're quite intriguing... the aboriginal Dreaming sort of thing... overall, the galleries feel friendly to visitors.

Yup, so go check out the 5 galleries in the Tanjong Pagar Distripark. I think they change their exhibits quite often so it's a place you can revisit. Here are their details:
  • Fortune Cookie Projects
    #02-04, ARTSPACE@Helutrans Block 39 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road Singapore. Exhibitions are stages on an ad-hoc basis, check their website for schedules. http://www.fortunecookieprojects.com/
  • ReDot Fine Art Gallery
    #02-06, ARTSPACE@Helutrans Block 39 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road Singapore. Tel: +65 6222 1039. Opens Tuesday to Saturday, from noon to 7pm. www.redotgallery.com
  • L2 Space
    02-02, Block 39 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road Singapore. Tel: +65 6226 3367 / +65 8223 7667. Open on Wednesday to Saturday from noon to 7pm, and Sunday from noon to 5pm. l2space.com.sg
  • Valentine Willie Fine Art
    #02-04, ARTSPACE@Helutrans Block 39 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road Singapore. Tel: +65 8133 1760.Opens Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 7pm, and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Closed on Monday and public holiday. http://www.vwfa.net/
  • Galerie Waterton
    #02-01, Block 39 Tanjong Pagar Distripark, 39 Keppel Road Singapore. Tel: +65 9783 2144. Opens Thu-Fri 1pm - 7pm, Sat-Sun 10am - 7pm or by appointment. www.galeriewaterton.com
And here's an article with more background on the galleries.

All the galleries are on the second level.

If you're working Mon to Fri, Sat should be a good day to visit. I advise against Sun as the pedestrian gate between Block 1 and 2 of the distripark is not opened. You probably have to access the distripark through the Keppel workshop entrance which is at the far end of the compound nearer to block 2. you will have to cut through its motorcycle carpark gate which... i'm not sure if it's gonna be opened or not. Call the galleries for more info if you really need to go on Sun.


How to get there?

Refer to this map.

Public Transport

The Tanjong Pagar Distripark is not next to any MRT station and you can only access by bus 10, 30, 57, 80, 97, 100, 131, 145.

If you don't have a direct bus to the place, you can take the MRT to either Tanjong Pagar (East-west line) or Harbourfront (North-east line) and transfer to a bus.

If arriving via Tanjong Pagar MRT, find the bus stop in front of Amara Hotel. There's bus 80 or 145 which will bring you right in front of the distripark.

If you're arriving via Harbourfront MRT, all buses stated above are available. Alight at the railway station and cross the road. Practise road safety as the traffic can be quite heavy since this is downtown.

Motorists

Motorists can consider parking at the railway station.



Cheers!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Through my 66-year-old father's eyes

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My father retired briefly for 3mths after 50 years of working. During the time he stopped work, I gave him a camera to play with. He would take photos of where he went to and we would talk about it.

I wonder what he was thinking when he took the pictures. He would just say "don't know. just want to shoot that. don't ask so much. nice?"

Monday, August 2, 2010

Stunning Sunset


Work can be tiring but life is a miracle and I want to focus on that. Sometimes our souls can be rewarded if we just take note of what is around us. This image is not digitally enhanced. The view was exactly what the picture shows. It was 7++ in the evening. I just got back from work and it was turning dark. But at the horizon, a stunning streak of light cut across the sky. The contrast between the light and the dark was captivating. I haven't seen such a scenery since I lived here!


Sometimes I Worry for the Birds


I recall that birds in Singapore used to be more nervous and alert to danger. When I was younger. they would fly away when I am not even 2 metres close. But nowadays, I notice cars speeding towards these birds and they would still be walking leisurely in their head-out-head-in bird motion in the middle of the road. Then, just before the car crushes them, they would calmly and suavely take a hop to the side and the car would just miss it by like 20cm. Is it my imagination that birds have evolved? Or was it that I was more dangerous than a car when I was younger.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Mint Museum of Toy

 

This is a long overdue post on the Mint Museum of Toy. I went there almost two years ago but didn't have the time to blog about it. YAY!! Finally have a bit of time now!

This museum is located in the heart of the city, near Raffles Hotel. There are five storeys in the building, each storey housing toys adhering to a particular theme.

While I prefer playing with toys to just looking at them, the museum does provide a "rich mix of nostalgia, education and inspiration" like they boast of on their website. For adults thinking of visiting, I suspect that a dash of imagination and certain familiarity with the subjects are required for adults to fully enjoy the museum.

Things to do
  • Count the number of scary and racist toys!
  • Play hopscotch!
  • Sit and reminisce about your childhood...
  • Buy a mint toy?
  • Treat yourself to chicken wings and drinks at the mint cafe :)

Yup, so if you're interested, here are the details:


Opening Hours: 
(Museum and shop) 9:30a.m. to 6:30p.m.
(Cafe) 9:30a.m. to 10:30p.m.


Address: 
26 Seah Street, Singapore 188382
(Click on the address to link to streetdirectory.com)

Entrance fees: 
(Adult) $15
(Child 2-12 years old) $7.50
(Child below 2) Free
(Senior citizen, 60 years old and above) $7.50
(Family promotion for 2 adults 2 children) $36
(Family promotion for 3 adults 1 child) $42


*Group and seasonal rates are available. (I believe that when I was there, I had student discount)
*All prices are inclusive of GST



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Saturday, March 6, 2010

Balestier (Part 1) - An Architecture History Book and More!


As I walked down Balestier Road some time back, I discovered that there were more to the area than lighting and wife's biscuit shops (or the occasional Hotel 88 - eek, hate it) ; The area is an interesting juxtaposition of architecture from different periods in Singapore: art deco shophouses, singapore electic style shophouses, HDB, transitional period houses, etc. etc.

Balestier actually 'documents' our heritage. It's one of the few areas that has a heritage trail written on it by our National Heritage Board. Go here to see the heritage trail details. You can learn about the origins of the various architecture on the website.

I had a nice walk that day. The shophouses were occupied by traditional businesses like traditional bakeries, a sheet metal bending shop and a bird shop. These sights and sounds are extinct in the HDB estates and city. Have a walk down Balestier if you have the time and indulge yourself in its slow rhythm of life. You may like to have a bowl of the famous Bak Ku Teh while you're there too. :)

See more photos below.

How to get there? 
Bus services available: 21, 124, 125, 130, 131, 145, 186
Nearest MRT: Novena, Toa Payoh (You may take bus service 131 from Novena MRT or bus service 139 or 145 from Toa Payoh MRT Station.)


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