IT’S art for art’s sake at the swanky new mall being built at Orchard Turn, thanks to a decision to devote a large chunk of pricey retail space to a gallery.
The gallery on the fourth floor of Ion Orchard will feature contemporary art and design by established and emerging artists from Singapore and the region.
At the unveiling of Ion’s retail show suite yesterday, the chief executive of mall developer Orchard Turn Developments dismissed the revenue loss from giving up 5,600 sq ft of retail space that could command up to $80 per sq ft.
Instead, Ms Soon Su Lin said the move would allow the mall to contribute to the local and international art scene.
Ion Art, as the gallery will be called, will also be a venue partner for art festivals, such as the Singapore Biennale.
Ion Orchard, which has leased half of its 650,000 sq ft net lettable area so far, also aims to take art appreciation to the skies and street.
The gallery will be linked to Ion Sky, a double-storey viewing space on the top two levels of the 56-storey tower - boasting 46 residential and eight commercial floors - that will be completed in 2010.
And an LED screen on the Orchard Road-facing facade will feature an ever-changing display of digital art.
Ion Orchard is not alone in the race to light up Singapore’s premier shopping strip.
The upmarket Palais Renaissance has begun a $16 million upgrade to install a double-skin glass facade - also with dancing LED lights.
Owner City Developments (CDL) said yesterday that the project, helmed by Japanese designers, will involve three-dimensional LED lights changing colours to ‘look like they are dancing artistically across the glass to music’.
The facade will be completed by November. CDL is also giving the dated mall’s interiors a facelift, to be completed ‘in phases’ next year.
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