CapitaLand and National Gallery Singapore announced the renewal of their partnership for the second consecutive year, promising a wave of innovative art installations and immersive experiences for visitors. This collaboration underscores the organisations' shared commitment to enrich Singapore's cultural landscape and make art accessible to all. The partnership kicked-off with The Gachapartment Complex(2024) by Nikkei at Funan's Underground Pedestrian Link during the Light to Night Festival 2024 in January.

Local illustrator Nikkei conceptualised a clandestine sanctuary, where toys lived intricate lives that mirrored own.  Attendees of the festival witnessed these toys spring to life and delved into the parallels between their bustling lives and the vibrancy of Funan. This immersive experience was facilitated by an augmented reality (AR) component developed by students from Temasek Polytechnic.

In the month of August 2024, the second instalment of the renewed partnership is the highly anticipated debut of illustrator Priscilla Tey's captivating installation, which will take place at three CapitaLand malls ? Raffles City Singapore, Plaza Singapura, and CQ @ Clarke Quay.  Inspired by artworks from the collection at National Gallery Singapore, including Liu Kang's celebrated masterpiece Life by the River (1975) and Jaffar Latiff'sWandering Series from the 1970s, Tey's installation, titled It Takes A Village, immerses audiences in a larger-than-life "picture book" of whimsical urbanscapes and depictions of Singaporean folktales.

 Timed to coincide with Singapore's National Day, the installation celebrates community, land and stories, paying tribute to the Singaporean "Kampong Spirit" and embracing the timeless values of resilience and unity. Tey's installation will take visitors on an immersive journey through a cardboard neighbourhood, complete with architectural structures, furniture, flora, fauna, and characters. The installation also offers interactive experiences, including the activation of unique AR components via Instagram.

Visitors can snap photos with the artwork and its interactive elements to redeem complimentary drinks or snacks from participating eateries, such as Tiong Bahru Bakery. The installation encourages visitors to gather around "stone tables" in the community spaces for drop-in activities, including crafting miniature cardboard plants that can be taken home or contributed to the growth of the installation's communal garden. CapitaLand has a longstanding commitment in supporting the arts, demonstrated through a diverse mix of art-meets-retail programmes across its malls in Singapore.

 In collaboration with National Gallery Singapore, CapitaLand will be curating a myriad of new art programmes that will appeal to various demographics, from professionals to families with young children.  Exploring new frontiers beyond traditional boundaries, CapitaLand's collaboration with National Gallery Singapore ventures into CapitaVerse for a second time, an innovative exploration of the metaverse in Roblox to liven the experience with art. This year's edition of CapitaVerse will feature engaging interactive games, time-based quests, virtual collectibles and music shows, giving participants an opportunity to earn exclusive Gallery Insider memberships.

These memberships provide unparalleled access to the world of art at the National Gallery Singapore and a variety of perks throughout CapitaLand malls. More details of CapitaVerse will be shared at a later date.