One of the pleasures of travelling, for me, is being able to pop in to galleries, museums and markets and try to get a feel for the local arts’ culture. Whilst the world may, acccording to some sources, be shrinking and art works also travel more easily these days, it is rare that I visit somewhere and haven’t seen something that catches my eye that is local to the region.

Stopping off in Singapore en route to my niece’s wedding in New Zealand and visiting a photographer cousin – see his captivating photographs at http://www.andywlangton.com – I roamed the city for the very first time. I was curious as to what the arts scene would be like there and whether a short stopover would allow me to see much. As it worked out I can’t pretend to have got my head around the local arts scene – like Loch Ness it definitely would require a more in-depth search – as it certainly doesn’t stand out at you screaming, unlike some cities. However following a beautiful morning visit to the acclaimed Botnical Gardens I took a bus which passed all the shopping malls – no, not quite my kind of thing – and led me directly to the Singapore Art Museum (SAM). Museums that require an entrance fee just to get in do make me think twice usually – spoilt, me? – but following a much needed cool refreshment at the calm, adjoining air-conditioned cafe I decided to take the plunge and pay my dollars.

The museum is housed in a former De La Salle Brothers’ Catholic boys’ school, the St. Joseph’s Institution, a building completed in 1867 and now a Singapore National Monument. Whilst still retaining some of the structure of the original building and the ‘feel’ of a college it has a likeable modern-meets-the-past quality. Viewing different rooms requires some sense of direction but, once found, the many rooms held some excellent work. Boo Junfeng’s video projection, Mirrors 2013, had me captivated and left me questionning my own obsessive reaction to the piece, Ryf Zaini’s technologically interactive installation, Unveil the curtain to the window with no ledge, set off light bulbs in my own head (both showing until Sept. 2013 as part of President’s Young Talents), and Aisha Khalid’s Appear As You Are, Be As You Appear, a fabric and steel needles embroidered velvet jacket, in The Collector’s Show: Weight of History, was highly thought-provoking, art not fashion. The individual artists reminded me how art can reflect local, regional and universal culture, and the work was presented in an engaging way.

The Panorama: Recent Art from Contemporary Asia and President’s Young Talents exhibitions were both fascinating and, in addition, I was also suprised to come across an arts exhibition by the Singapore Association for Mental Health. Titled Every Thing Matters, a combination of pop-art inspired pieces and still life by several artists working with Singaporean artist Justin Lee, this provided an unexpected bonus for myself, someone who has been involved in working and curating in the arts and mental health field. Given the variety of exhibitions within SAM, the design of the building, and the slightly disjointed but commonality of the building, I definitely would recommend SAM to any ‘stopovers’ or indeed anyone who lives in the area. Finally the onset of the regular, but my first, Singapore thunderstorm was an added delight to the gallery experience, with the ability to watch from behind glass or participate and get soaked within the courtyard.

From one  space that has been transformed to a gallery to another unusual space now lending itself to performance – the silo at Wyndham Quarter was an unexpected event I came across whilst wandering around Auckland. I had heard about some changes to the docks and the arrival of ‘the cloud’ but I hadn’t been prepared for the new use of space in this area. Cavernous restaurants, childrens’ play area, pop up pizza and bar, all within a operating port area with passenger boats moored alongside luxury yachts, and ordinary sailboats nestling among refineries and silos.

I became happily emotional sitting in this area with my extended family in a space eerily recalling our own Birkenhead Docks  – whose current owners Peel Holdings I doubt have such artistic intentions!  – and noticing the invitation to a free performance in a silo, part of the White Nights evening and Auckland Arts Festival, I was too intrigued to miss out. Concretion, as it was called, turned out to be a fascinating sound and vision experience and one, months later, I can still recall.

Entering the silo itself was fascinating – my first silo! – and soon I was mesmerised by the sound of a cannister being bashed against floor and wall, by the movement involved by the artist in doing this, by the visuals projected on to the structure of the building and by the freedom to wander around, listen and watch, and note other people’s various different reactions. The mix of industry, art, sound and vision unexpectedly provided a total not-out-of-body-but-in-the-body experience, and the artists Robert Carter, Kim Newall and Clinton Watkins appeared to work in industrial harmony. I know it is not the same as in person but some of it is on video if you want to have a better idea: http://vimeo.com/64851667

Though this was a site-specific piece it made me think could Concretions be transported, a silo tour perhaps? Though no expert in silos myself – I am sure there are some out there – I guess it would depend on how many empty silos there are just waiting for these artists to come and bring their creative energy. What was the artists’ intention? To be frank I am not sure I know. I enjoyed it, in fact more than enjoyed it, and noticed it connected with the history of the place, the flowing movement of grain and industrialisation. Strangely, given the enclosed structure of the building, it also exploded with a sense of freedom, of anger almost, creating a dynamic event. A great happening within the Wynard Quarter, itself a fascinating, unusually unrestricted, experimental and slightly commercial vibrant dock area, Concretion provided a briliant way of engaging in local and international art and history. With SAM and silo we have two very different historic buildings providing space for experience, reflection and interest and may we retain more for the future.