[Student-Led Tour] Public Temporalities

Ng Eng Teng, Movement, 1999; Ciment fondu, 230 x 50 x 50 cm. Collection of NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

Public Temporalities: Memory in/and Movement explores the public sculptures across the NUS campus. As the University marks its 120th anniversary in 2025, these works serve as markers of institutional history, collective memory, and the evolving relationship between art and its environment.

Public sculptures exist in dialogue with their surroundings. Unlike artworks in a museum, they are shaped by and, in turn, shape the spaces they inhabit. Over time, shifting landscapes, new perspectives, and changing institutional narratives add layers of meaning to these works. Memory, too, is fluid—shaped through movement, context, and interaction.

Memory is often selective and at NUS, institutional memory is embedded in commemorative plaques, sculptures, and buildings, capturing specific moments yet continuing to exist in the present. This booklet offers a way to engage with these sculptures, considering their histories, artistic intentions, and continued resonance. As you make your way through the campus, take a moment to pause, observe, and reflect on how public art shapes our understanding of space, history, and belonging.

Route and Attire

• The tour starts promptly at 4:15PM at Shaw Foundation Alumni House and ends at NUS Museum roughly around 5:30PM.
• As the tour takes place outdoors across various locations on the NUS campus and requires navigating stairs, uneven pathways, and extended walking distances, we recommend wearing comfortable attire suitable for movement—such as a cap, moisture-wicking clothing, and walking shoes.

Weather Advisory

• Please be prepared for varying weather conditions, including heat, humidity, and sudden rain.
• We encourage participants to bring water, sun protection, insect repellent, and an umbrella or raincoat.
• In the event of severe wet weather, the tour may be delayed or cancelled for safety reasons. Participants will be notified as soon as possible in such cases – please check the email you used for registration for updates.