Three of a Kind
Art galleries in PNG, Sydney and Singapore
NATIONAL MUSEUM & ART GALLERY, PORT MORESBY, PNG
Step inside this handsome, recently remodelled art gallery and museum (pictured) and you’ll be greeted by tens of thousands of artefacts from Papua New Guinea’s 22 provinces, relating to anthropology, archaeology, natural history and contemporary art, some dating back to the 1800s. Wander around the thoughtfully curated exhibits and you’ll find musical instruments, kina shell money, headgear decorated with feathers, ceremonial drums, elaborate bark cloth masks, totem poles from the Sepik, and much more.
NEARBY EATS
The Vision City Mega Mall is about five minutes away and has 15 food and beverage outlets, including fast food, bakeries, cafes and restaurants.
NEED TO KNOW
Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 3pm; Sunday 1pm to 3pm. Independence Drive, Waigani, Port Moresby. Free admission on weekdays; PGK10 on weekends for nonresidents. For tours phone +675 325 2422. See museumpng.gov.pg.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Attracting over one million visitors each year, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is Sydney’s major modern art venue and has some of the most spectacular harbour views in the city, overlooking the ferries at Circular Quay. The permanent collection is devoted to contemporary Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, including sculpture, painting, photography, video art and installations, while regularly changing cult exhibitions feature major international artists, including Annie
Leibovitz and Anish Kapoor. Plan your visit for Wednesdays to see Art After Hours until 9pm, or for the quarterly ARTBAR events (check website for dates) combining art, music and live acts, with rooftop dancing and drinks.
NEARBY EATS
Head up to the fourth-floor, semi-alfresco MCA Cafe for breakfast and lunch, and insane views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
NEED TO KNOW
Open 10am to 5pm daily; Wednesday until 9pm. Free admission, except to the major summer exhibition. Free daily guided tours and a downloadable app are available to help you navigate the exhibitions. See mca.com.au.
NATIONAL GALLERY, SINGAPORE
Singapore’s National Art Gallery, which owns the largest public collection (more than 8000 works) of modern art in South-East Asia, is a work of art itself. Open since late 2015, it has blended two national colonial monuments,
City Hall and Singapore’s former Supreme Court, and focuses on Singaporean and South-East Asian art from the 19th century to today. Temporary exhibitions cover everything from Vietnamese lacquer painting to Chinese calligraphy (check website for upcoming exhibitions), while the inaugural exhibit ‘Siapa Nama Kamu?’ focuses on Singaporean art since the 19th century. For art with views of the Singaporean skyline, check out the open-air gallery on the top floor.
NEARBY EATS
There are nine great bars and restaurants inside the gallery, but if you want to go further afield, head to Long Beach Main Seafood Restaurant (1018 East Coast Parkway) for a no-fuss vibe and excellent chilli crab.
NEED TO KNOW
Open Saturday to Thursday 10am to 6pm; Friday 10am to 9pm. Entry $S20 for nonSingaporeans. See nationalgallery.sg.