The Art Gallery is next to NIE’s theatre which is also called The Black Box. Both will be a hub of cultural activities, especially for the young athletes during the 2010 Youth Olympics. Artistic exhibits by artists and art educators will be showcased here, said Professor Lee Sing Kong, Director of NIE, at the official opening.
The launch was accompanied by Visual Praxis, an exhibition featuring works by artists and art educators at NIE. The exhibition, which is open from March 5th to April 9th, is the first staff show in the new art gallery.
In conjunction, a performing arts piece, In the Large Glass of Water, was also on show. Professor John Matthews of NIE and his fellow performer danced in a large tank of water in The Nanyang Playhouse.
The opening was graced by Mr Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Appreciating art is all about seeing and not just looking,” said Mr Masagos Zulkifli.
NIE’s art gallery started as a foyer in the Raffles Building at the old Bukit Timah campus.
It was developed into an art gallery when NIE moved to its current location. But in 2006, it was converted to a Students’ Hub. This new art gallery is a reincarnation of the old one.
In line with the values of education, the art gallery is able to tap into a network of art centres and community centres to provide arts education for schools and the public.
A first-year student teacher Michelle Tan, 19, said: “It is very exciting that we have such specialised facilities here in NIE. Furthermore, it is great that we are able to be part of the Youth Olympics in more ways than one.”
