Art is not only found in museums and art galleries. These days, you can even find it on your doorstep.
At Pontiac Land’s Ardmore Residence, residents are greeted at the main entrance with an impressive sculpture by avant garde Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, called My Pumpkin Exists in the Infinite – one of only two large pumpkin sculptures she has made. More popularly known for her collaborations with luxury goods brand Louis Vuitton, she believes she has now left a trace of herself at the condominium so that residents can live with her “beautiful memory”.
Over the years, Pontiac Land has commissioned artists to create specific “museum-quality” pieces that complement its portfolio of properties. Camilla Chiam, who heads group corporate communications at Pontiac Land Group, says: “Art adds an additional dimension that harmonises with the architectural style and interior design … We believe it enriches the lives of our residents and guests, and contributes to why residents prefer our properties.”
Ms Chiam says: “We are more concerned with whether the development is the appropriate context for the art piece, as opposed to meeting a budget.”
At Sky Habitat in Bishan by CapitaLand, the artworks are collectively owned by the residents and managing body. The art, chosen by the developer, generally has to have wide appeal. Resident Sue Chew could not be happier with the specially commissioned sculptures for the condominium grounds. “I was pleasantly surprised and impressed when I saw the artworks for the first time. I think they give the development an identity and add colour to the surroundings,” she says.
Francis Wong Hooe Wai, chief of art management at CapitaLand, says: “The artworks must complement the architecture, be easy to maintain, and enhance the aesthetic value and identity of the projects.”
For CapitaLand, the art it commissions directly or acquires through galleries has to be “cheerful and communicative, with themes of people and nature as they hold a wider appeal”.
“Making art pieces accessible to the community is our way of promoting art appreciation and enjoyment,” adds Mr Wong. By doing this, CapitaLand is using art to reach out to the communities within its developments (and beyond) to strengthen its own corporate credo, “Building People. Building Communities”.
The choice of artworks for a development are sometimes chosen by the architect, as was the case at Leedon Residence by Guocoland.
For Far East Organization, which markets its luxury homes under its relatively new luxury brand, Inessence, art is also an important aspect of brand building.
Shaw Lay See, its chief operating officer for property sales, says: “Integrating art with our ultra-luxury Inessence homes in Orchard Road seems natural, as our residents are used to seeing art in public and entertainment spaces around the world, and some of them are art collectors themselves.”
Taking a slightly different approach to art in condos, City Developments Ltd (CDL) has introduced art in unexpected spaces, such as the car park of The Residences at W Singapore, Sentosa Cove. Anthony Chia, the executive vice-president of projects, says that this is to “enliven” these spaces. The car park has 19 wall murals by local artists, commissioned through an art-management company. The hip development also features whimsical installations such as the pink flamingos under a purple canopy in the central plaza. “As a developer of spaces and lifestyle, we believe that art complements the built environment,” says Mr Chia.
CDL says it has been commissioning art since the 1990s. But while earlier commissions may have been more themed – the more than 100 bronze animal sculptures for Savannah CondoPark come to mind – these days, the art is determinedly more au courant.
*extracted from the article ‘Art, close & personal’ on the business times