A Paris cultural institution takes home in Singapore

SINGAPORE- Singapore is back on the art scene with new projects to be soon completed. The new Singapore National Gallery, which will be hosted in the historical City Hall will be the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, offering the biggest collection of painting of the entire region. The museum is due to open in 2015, the same year than another prestigious art institution. Pinacotheque de Paris, the largest private art museum in Paris will open its first location outside of Europe in Singapore.

Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris will be located at the Fort Canning Centre, within Fort Canning Park. The museum in Singapore will mirror that of France, a fine art museum known for its critically acclaimed exhibitions that celebrates transversality and the dialogue between different works of art.

Pinacotheque de Paris is well-known for presenting world-class exhibitions by master artists the likes of Rembrandt Harmensz, Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Amedeo Modigliani, Pablo Picasso, Edvard Munch and Jackson Pollock among others. These masterpieces are borrowed from private collections not normally seen in a museum setting and the way they are presented is unique. Marc Restellini, founder and creator of Pinacotheque de Paris is a gifted art historian famous for abandoning traditional classifications by dates or movements, favouring transverse themes. Visitors to Pinacotheque de Paris are invited to enter the precious lair of a collector’s passion to experience a repository of wonderment and beauty.

Led by Art Heritage Singapore (AHS) Pte Ltd, Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris will showcase specially curated revolving collections of classic and contemporary art previously inaccessible to the region. Special attention is placed on the visitors as they are invited to rethink the classic realm of art history, as they explore and compare diverse eras and areas that are scarcely examined.

Mr. Marc Restellini, Creator and Founder of Pinacotheque de Paris and Partner of AHS, said, “Pinacotheque de Paris was envisioned to be the best of its kind, and for years it has given the city of Paris memorable exhibitions, gaining rave reviews from art aficionados. We are delighted to be bringing rarely seen before works by some of the world’s most celebrated master artists to this region and I am very excited about the opportunity to share these priceless art collections with people here.”

Discussions to bring Pinacotheque de Paris to Singapore began in 2008 between passionate art lovers Marc Restellini, Yves Bouvier and Alain Vandenborre, driven by a purpose of bringing rarely accessible quality fine art to the region. Strategically located at the crossroads of Asia and the West, Singapore is in a unique position to present world-class art to the region.

Mr. Alain Vandenborre, Partner of AHS, shared, “In recent years, we have seen Singapore grow and develop into a dynamic marketplace for the arts, with excellent infrastructure, capabilities and facilities. Situated in the Arts and Heritage district, Fort Canning Centre is the ideal home for Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris and we look forward to making a lasting contribution to the arts landscape of the region.”

“We are delighted that Pinacotheque de Paris has chosen Singapore to establish their Asian footprint. When it opens, locals and visitors alike will be able to experience rarely accessible private artworks and collections. The museum will be a compelling addition to our tourism landscape, and complements our existing visual arts offerings such as the Singapore Art Museum, Singapore Art Week and the upcoming National Art Gallery. This project will expand the range of art that can be enjoyed in Singapore. It is a great illustration of how we marry meaningful programming and valuable content with our excellent infrastructure.” said Lionel Yeo, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board.

Poon Hong Yuen, CEO, NParks, said, “The Singapore Pinacotheque de Paris will be a unique attraction in Fort Canning Park, a popular venue for arts and cultural events and one of Singapore’s most historic landmarks. We believe having a world-class fine art museum in the heart of the city will enhance the vibrancy of Fort Canning Park, and contribute to Singapore’s vision as a City in a Garden.”

Intended as a premier venue of cultural activities and educational events for everyone, AHS will be redeveloping the Fort Canning Centre with plans to complement the museum with retail and F&B spaces, including a museum shop. There will be areas for special events and gatherings, customised tours of exhibitions and unique entertainment opportunities, making the venue a hot spot for an art-based lifestyle experience.

Sourced: TravelDailyNews