The Asian Civilisations Museum was the second major art venue in the island city-state that I visited last week. Along with the broad survey of art and artifacts in the region in its permanent collections, a special exhibit addressed calligraphy, drawing, and painting with ink and brush. Some highlights:
“Lotus” (1964) by Pan Tianshou (1897–1971).
“Magpies” (1945) by Xu Beihong (1895–1953).
Tile with Kufic inscription (late 1500s) from western central Asia.
“Kali destroys the elephants and chariots of the army of demons,” Guler, India (around 1760). The goddess Ambika rides a lion and looks on.
Figurines of a wedding party: the groom. I don’t have the details.
The bride being brought to the wedding ceremony.
City plan of Batavia, the Dutch entrepôt that was the Singapore of its day.
Detail of a panorama of the Shanghai Bund (1849-’51).
The museum also has artifacts. I don’t have notes on this one.
The museum also has some exquisite bowls and vases. Again, no notes.
Another of many large bowls.
Cambodian depiction of the goddess Durga from the 7th or 8th century.)
Detail showing the buffalo demon quelled by Durga.
Here are a few more things seen for which I have no notes.
