3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
New teamLab wonders, clay creatures and a Pixar classic: Your next great day out starts at ArtScience Museum
With a refreshed crowd favourite, a playful clay land by South Korean artist Do Ho Suh and films that move the heart, this cultural icon invites you to dive into creativity and discovery
PHOTOS: (clockwise from top left) TEAMLAB, AAMI SUH, OMI SUH AND DO HO SUH, PRUDENCE CUMING ASSOCIATES AND ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
ArtScience Museum invites you to play, imagine and co-create when you step into its world.
Perched like a lotus on the edge of Marina Bay, ArtScience Museum is as symbolic as it is futuristic. It feels like a temple for the future, rooted in science and elevated by art.
But beyond its instantly recognisable silhouette lies something that many visitors do not realise: It is not a typical museum where you simply observe or admire the exhibits. It is a space that invites you to immerse, interact and imagine.
Designed for curious young minds, ArtScience Laboratory hosts daily activities and creative workshops that turn learning into play.
PHOTO: ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
While many are familiar with the museum's headline-grabbing exhibitions – often developed in collaboration with world-renowned artists and institutions – few experience the museum in its full depth.
ArtScience Museum is not designed to be a one-stop visit; it is a complete cultural experience that's meant to appeal to all ages and interests.
Whether you are a parent looking to inspire your children, a curious mind chasing the next big idea, or a culture vulture in search of the unexpected, there's something to stir your senses.
Let your imagination run wild in Artland, where visitors sculpt clay creatures as part of a playful, hands-on installation.
PHOTO: AAMI SUH, OMI SUH AND DO HO SUH
One museum, endless possibilities
Inside the museum, there is a carefully curated ecosystem of immersive galleries, hands-on workshops, Steam (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) based activities, in-house film festivals, thought leader talks and even late-night cultural sessions.
This diversity of experiences is intentional. ArtScience Museum's programming is tailored to different interest groups, from art lovers and science geeks to young families and eco-conscious explorers.
Visitors often come for a single marquee exhibition, but stay on to explore everything else, which transforms the visit into an unforgettable experience.
Strap in for a deeply immersive experience at the VR Gallery, where animated stories like Nana Lou unfold.
PHOTO: ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
Not a museum of the past, but of the Now and the Next
Unlike traditional museums that lean on nostalgia, ArtScience Museum is future-forward-thinking. It was the first institution in Asia dedicated to exploring the intersection of art and science – a radical idea when it launched in 2011, and still a rare one today.
Here, art does not live in isolation. And neither does science. The exhibitions dispense from convention: They break down silos and ignite conversations between disciplines, creators and audiences, and even generations.
Every installation is thoughtfully designed to be immersive – often interactive, encouraging visitors to co-create, reflect and question. At its core, every experience is designed to spark wonder and invite participation.
Must-see experiences happening now
Future World: Where Art Meets Science (Reopened May 31)
In partnership with world-renowned art collective teamLab,
Future World returns – refreshed and more exhilarating than ever, with mesmerising digital installations like Continuous Life and Death, and Flow Reaches Far. These dynamic works change with time and respond to visitor movement, creating a constantly-shifting experience.
Future World ticket holders enjoy complimentary entry to
Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses throughout July.
The newly refreshed Future World features mesmerising digital installations by teamLab that react to your every move.
PHOTO: TEAMLAB AND ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
Artland by Do Ho Suh and Children
Artland invites visitors into an imaginative world created by celebrated
South Korean artist Do Ho Suh and his children . Playful, poetic, and participatory, guests are encouraged to shape their own creatures and plants from air-dry clay to add to the ever-evolving landscape of Artland. Themed parent-child workshops exploring concepts such as emotional intelligence and ecosystems are available for kids aged five to 12, to extend their learning of the experience.
Sustainable Futures Season (Now till July 30)
Back for its second edition,
Sustainable Futures serves as a powerful reminder of the museum's commitment to contemporary issues. Through films, eco-friendly craft sessions, digital nature trails and thought-provoking forums, the season explores what it means to live sustainably.
A key programme is the Sustainable Futures Film Festival at ArtScience Cinema, which features 11 films and moving image works that explore themes of ecological resilience and environmental empathy.
Highlights include the Asia premiere of Time To Gather (2023), a gentle portrait of a village in central Portugal, one of the world's largest producers of cork.
Also featured are the South-east Asia premiere of Every Little Thing (2024), a documentary about a dedicated hummingbird rehabilitator, and the Singapore premiere of Against The Tide (2023), an urgent exploration of climate change through the eyes of two Bombay fishermen.
The Sustainable Futures Season spotlights urgent conversations around climate, craft and community.
PHOTO: ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
SingaPop! 60 Years of Singapore Pop Culture
With SG60 fast approaching, SingaPop! is a time capsule created in partnership with Dick Lee. This immersive exhibition celebrates six decades of Singaporean pop culture from hawker food and Singlish to music and fashion. Explore five vivid chapters that chart the evolution of Singapore's national identity.
ArtScience Cinema and VR Gallery
For film buffs,
the museum's in-house cinema offers a compelling lineup. Catch Inside Out 2 (2024) for free – the beloved animation about making room for new emotions.
Then
step into the VR Gallery for Nana Lou, an award-winning, emotional virtual reality experience that explores ageing, the power of memory and familial love.
In Nana Lou, virtual reality becomes a window into a grandmother's world of memories, love and growing old.
PHOTO: ARTSCIENCE MUSEUM
ArtScience After Hours
Prefer to explore after dark? The museum now opens late on Fridays and Saturdays for ArtScience
After Hours – a calmer way to experience the space. It's ideal for couples, night owls or those seeking a quieter, more reflective visit.
A cultural landmark that moves with the world
What makes ArtScience Museum special is its readiness to evolve. Its exhibitions and experiences are constantly refreshed to stay relevant to global conversations – whether it is about sustainability, artificial intelligence, human identity or emotional wellness.
With every new programme, it reaffirms its role as Asia's foremost cultural trailblazer, weaving together art, science and technology in ways that feel fresh, inclusive and necessary.
So don't just pop in for one exhibition and call it a day. Build an itinerary. Bring your kids. Invite your partner or your parents. Take part in a workshop, watch a film, lose yourself in an exhibition and leave with your mind buzzing.
