National Gallery Singapore to close permanent landmark exhibition for 18 months

The National Gallery Singapore can be considered the best art museum in Southeast Asia as it offers a trans-national perspective on art movements. It actually does not only shows the history of painting just in Singapore but also across Southeast Asia with an exceptional collection of painting and sculptures from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

However, time to visit this unique collection is limited. The Southeast Asia Gallery at National Gallery Singapore will close to the public as it undergoes an extensive redevelopment beginning April 1, 2026. The renewed exhibition scheduled to reopen in November 2027. The project represents the first major overhaul of the museum’s flagship Southeast Asian art presentation since it debuted in 2015.

At the center of the closure is Between Declarations And Dreams, the museum’s landmark permanent exhibition exploring modern Southeast Asian art. Spread across 15 galleries, the exhibition traces the development of artistic expression across the region from the 19th century to the present. The display includes more than 300 works by major regional figures such as Indonesian painter Raden Saleh and Filipino master Juan Luna.

During the renovation period, all gallery spaces on Levels 3, 4 and 5 of the Former Supreme Court Wing will be closed to visitors. This includes the Rotunda Library on Level 3 and the UOB Theatrette on Level 5. The Rotunda Library & Archive already closed their doors on February 14, 2026. They will not reopen before October 2027, although researchers will still be able to consult materials by appointment beginning March 8.

Themes to replace geographical presentation

The revamped gallery is intended to reflect evolving scholarship and new perspectives on Southeast Asia’s artistic heritage. According to Chief Curator Patrick Flores, the project builds on years of research and aims to present the region as a cultural space shaped by shared histories and exchanges rather than simple geography.

The redevelopment follows the gallery’s tenth anniversary celebrations in 2025 and the recent renewal of its Singapore art exhibition, which reopened in July 2025 under the title Singapore Stories: Pathways And Detours In Art. The updated presentation expanded representation of women and minority artists and broadened the museum’s interpretation of visual culture.

While much of the Former Supreme Court Wing will be inaccessible during the works, some areas — including the Former Supreme Court Foyer on Level 1 and the Historical Lobby on Level 3 — will remain open.

To maintain public access to the collection, the museum plans to introduce a smaller interim exhibition featuring selected Southeast Asian artworks starting in October 2026. The temporary display will bring a little bit of comfort to art lovers… while waiting for the reopening at the end of 2027.