Over 130 works by late Colombian artist Botero on display at Gardens by the Bay until May

Key Concepts

• Fernando Botero: Late Colombian artist known for his signature style of portraying figures in large, exaggerated volume.
• Gardens by the Bay: Singaporean horticultural attraction and primary venue for the Botero exhibition.
• Emba Theater: New art space within Gardens by the Bay dedicated to hosting large-scale art exhibitions and immersive experiences.
• Public Art: Botero’s philosophy of making art accessible to all through placement in public spaces.
• Immersive Experience: A digitally-enhanced, interactive exhibit based on Botero’s life and work.

The Botero Exhibition in Singapore: A Landmark Event

Singapore is hosting the only Southeast Asian stop for the world’s largest collection of works by the late Colombian artist Fernando Botero. The exhibition, located at Gardens by the Bay, features over 130 pieces, including sculptures, paintings, and drawings, and will run until May. The installation of the artworks, particularly the large sculptures, required significant logistical effort – specifically, 120 man-hours were dedicated to setting up the displays.

Scale and Significance of the Sculptures

A key highlight of the exhibition is the scale of Botero’s sculptures. One prominent piece, “Woman on Horseback,” stands at approximately 3 metres tall and weighs around 1500 kilograms (or 3 tons). This sculpture, along with others, embodies Botero’s commitment to public art, aiming to “enrich lives and spread joy” through accessible artistic experiences. Singapore already features Botero’s work in public spaces, such as the UOB Plaza at Raffles Place, demonstrating a pre-existing appreciation for the artist’s style.

Singapore as a Global Art Hub

Juan Carlos Botero, the artist’s eldest son, emphasized Singapore’s growing importance as a global art capital. He stated that, over the past 20 years, Singapore has become renowned not only for its strengths in technology, logistics, banking, finance, and law, but also as a destination “for art, for culture, for people, for families.” The Botero Foundation specifically identified Singapore as a crucial city for expanding the artist’s legacy and showcasing his work to a wider Asian audience.

The Launch of the Emba Theater

The Botero exhibition coincides with the opening of a new art space within Gardens by the Bay: the Emba Theater. This venue will initially house the 100+ Terrell paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the Botero collection. In March, the Emba Theater will debut the world’s first immersive experience dedicated to Botero’s life and artistic journey.

Immersive Experience & Artistic Philosophy

The immersive experience aims to capture the core of Botero’s artistic philosophy – “The Emba Theater makes people happy, [and] this really what we want to really capture.” This aligns with the broader values of Gardens by the Bay, which seeks to provide “closer to culture experiences” for visitors. The Emba Theater is envisioned as a “gateway for major arts and cultural presentations in Asia,” solidifying Singapore’s position as a leading cultural destination.

Data & Figures

• 130+: Number of Botero works on display.
• 120 man-hours: Time spent setting up the exhibition.
• 3 metres: Height of the “Woman on Horseback” sculpture.
• 1500 kilograms: Weight of the “Woman on Horseback” sculpture.
• 20 years: Timeframe over which Singapore has become a significant art capital.