As part of Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2025, the National Arts Council (NAC) and Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced the launch of art under viaduct spaces, a new project born from a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in January 2024. This inaugural project by NAC and LTA, supported by SMRT and the People’s Association (PA), reimagines public transport spaces as canvases for the arts, invites the public to encounter art in familiar yet unconventional spaces, and transforms daily commutes into enriching cultural experiences. Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Low Yen Ling, alongside artist Quek Jia Qi, unveiled the artworks for ‘A Living Museum for Bukit Gombak’ at the Bukit Gombak Sports Hall.

‘A Living Museum for Bukit Gombak’ is an interactive, community-driven art installation that transforms the viaduct pillars at Bukit Gombak into an evolving representation of the neighbourhood’s rich history, natural beauty and community spirit. It is part of NAC’s Public Art Trust (PAT) initiative, which aims to bring art into everyday spaces where Singaporeans live, work and play, and LTA’s Art in Transit programme, which aims to bring artworks closer to commuters while transforming transport nodes into lively places. 

Playing on the meaning of “Gombak” (collection) and the transformation of Bukit Gombak’s hilly terrain, the installation reimagines the space of viaduct pillars through contemporary art wraps, with each pillar showcasing different aspects of the precinct’s identity.

Artist Quek Jia Qi has created five large-scale artworks that feature images of local artefacts contributed by residents. These artefacts reflect the local history and unique characteristics of Bukit Gombak, including several displayed at the Hillview Heritage Gallery within the Hillview Community Club precinct. The artworks encourage residents to reflect on their shared identity and collective solidarity through the collaborative nature of the installation.

Residents and the public can view the artworks on Instagram @alivingmuseumforbukitgombak and are invited to contribute their own images of artefacts representing Bukit Gombak at https://go.gov.sg/alivingmuseumforbukitgombak

This project exemplifies ongoing efforts, especially in celebration of SG60, to enliven public spaces and foster a vibrant and creative city through the arts. By turning Singapore into a canvas for artistic expression, NAC and LTA aim to nurture a more engaged and culturally confident society, enhancing urban experiences for all residents and visitors.

Following last year’s successful rollout of SAW-themed train and art murals at seven MRT stations, this year’s themed train and murals will once again spotlight nearby SAW programmes during the ten-day season this month across eight stations island wide. Unveiled as part of Singapore Art Week (SAW) 2025, this is the second collaboration between NAC and LTA to invigorate public transport spaces with art.

Additionally, from 14 January to 16 February 2025, a new public artwork by artist Boedi Widjaja will also be installed near Exit 10 of Orchard Station (Thomson-East Coast Line), blending particle physics, photography, poetry, and sound art to create an immersive experience for commuters.

“We also want to invite our Bukit Gombak residents to continue to contribute their image of artefacts representing Bukit Gombak. I want to encourage you to share this opportunity with your family, your friends, your neighbours, so that they can also contribute their cherished memories of Bukit Gombak,” said Senior Minister of State Ms Low Yen Ling. “This is a very meaningful way of celebrating SG60. You might have heard from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong talking about how as we come together to commemorate SG60 together, a more meaningful way to celebrate it is to show care, to connect with one another, and in a way to contribute any way we can. By contributing our cherished memories, I think is the best way to commemorate our sixtieth year of nation building together.”