Kevin Lim, Deputy Director, CoLab X
National Gallery Singapore is an exciting platform showcasing Southeast Asian visual arts to a global audience. The Gallery spans around 64,000sqm, occupies the neoclassical buildings of former Supreme Court and City Hall, and aims to be a world-class art institution featuring both permanent collections and changing exhibitions that places Singapore on the world stage of visual arts. For a half a billion dollar start-up (the cost of conserving and refurbishing the buildings), the Singapore government sees National Gallery Singapore as a major step forward in helping to establish the visual art ecosystem necessary to support the cultural needs of its citizens, regional neighbors and beyond. To do so, a creative tension exists where the twin goals of the Gallery seeks a) to promote artistic excellence among cultural peers, yet to do so b) in an accessible and engaging way for the general public. This is where Co:Lab X, led by Kevin fits in as it focuses on 3 areas at the Gallery, inc:
1. User Experience: Audience segmentation, visitor journeys and feedback systems to assess how Gallery could better serve our community
2. Visitor Analytics: Leveraging tools like Wifi, iBeacons, Computer Vision, and Data Visualization to study our visitors’ traits and preferences
3. Interactive Development: Developing interactive touch points (eg Gallery Explorer App) which enable visitors to take DIY tours and navigate to key artworks
Image – National Gallery Singapore