The Private Museum

The ‘Emergent Nets’ series of artworks explores a particular class of fractal lines known as Space-Filling Curves, such these special lines could be expressed as complex tilings marked with lines, and that there could be many more versions than the few that had been published in mathematical journals. Richard Hassell () discovered many more examples of Space-Filling Curves previously unknown.

In the ‘Emergent Nets’ series, the artworks add a further layer of complexity by twisting the lines of these new tilings into a net. The complex order within the net creates shifting perceptions of patterns and lines as our brains attempt to analyse the structure of the net, an effort ultimately fruitless as the complexity remains slightly out of reach for our inborn visual processing capabilities.

Richard Hassell proposes that this complexity arising out of simplicity can be seen as analogous to system effects that emerge from many natural systems. The pleasurable frustration in sensing that there is order but being unable to define it is what drives our human search for knowledge and understanding of our complex world.

‘Strange Connections: Art and Architecture’ by Richard Hassell is showcasing at The Private Museum until 28 July 2024.

The ‘Sub-Terrain’ series of artworks expresses the complexity of substitutional tilings as abstract aerial landscapes. Richard Hassell () realised that the fractal nature of many tilings could not be expressed at the scale of tessellations or nets, as these visual devices impose a restricted scale on the artworks. The ‘Sub-Terrain’ series uses the device of dots to map a much larger portion of tiles. The dots are expressed at two scales in the artworks, creating depth in the visual field.

The artworks reveal resonances with Australian first nation art, where patterns in the landscape are likewise expressed with concentric dots, as well as aerial photos of Australian desert landscapes, where sparse bushes mark the flows of water and wind in the eroded landscape. This resonance is not coincidental, but rather a shared property of complex iterative systems, revealed in the process of mapping.

Each artwork is only a fragment of the terrain, and each artwork can be infinitely extended in any direction without repetition.

‘Strange Connections: Art and Architecture’ by Richard Hassell is showcasing at The Private Museum until 28 July 2024.

Richard Hassell () was fascinated by the work of Dutch artist M.C.Escher (1898–1972) during his schooldays. Escher’s work was so comprehensive that he left the field of tessellated tiling complete, producing tessellations for all regular symmetry groups known since ancient times. However, just as Escher died in 1972, the mathematical field of tiling was opening up again with the discovery of strange aperiodic and complex tilings such as the Penrose Tiles and Ammann Tiles, that were part of the dawn of computational mathematics and the Complexity Theory.

Richard Hassell realised that these new tilings could be tessellated. The resulting designs gave unique insights into these new classes of tilings, in a series he titled ‘Strange Creatures’. Whereas Escher’s tessellations are “Wallpaper Tilings” with simple repeats (known as translational symmetry), Richard Hassell’s tessellations are based on substitution tilings, which are aperiodic and have a fractal, multi-scalar quality. The tilings are highly ordered yet their complexity defies our ability to understand their embedded patterns.

‘Strange Connections: Art and Architecture’ by Richard Hassell is showcasing at The Private Museum until 28 July 2024.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on the 30th of June 2024 for the artist talk of ‘Strange Connections: Art and Architecture’ by Richard Hassell, in conversation with Aaron Teo, Associate Director of The Private Museum. We hope you enjoyed the session and gained valuable insights into the exhibition and the history of Osborne House.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Richard Hassell (), Founding Director of WOHA () for his wonderful sharing.

‘Strange Connections: Art and Architecture’ by Richard Hassell is showcasing at The Private Museum until 28 July 2024.

Happy Birthday to M.C. Escher! 🎉 
 
Known for his mind-bending optical illusions and intricate patterns, Maurits Cornelis Escher was a Dutch graphic artist known best for his woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints—many of which were inspired by mathematics. 50 years after his passing, Escher’s work continues to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide. 
 
The Private Museum is thrilled to showcase ‘Strange Connections: Art and Architecture’, an exhibition by architect and artist Richard Hassell () who draws profound inspiration from Escher’s genius. Dive into a world where art and architecture merge, and join us in paying homage to the master of mathematical art. Come celebrate Escher’s legacy with us at The Private Museum from now till 28 July! 
 
(Pictured)
Richard Hassell
Fractal Relativity (2018)
130 x 120 cm
UV ink on brushed aluminium dibond panel
Edition 5/12
 
Image courtesy of The Private Museum.
 

The Private Museum is thrilled to invite you to the artist talk and e-publication launch of ‘Strange Connections: Art and Architecture’ by Richard Hassell happening on Sunday, 30 June 2024.

Artist Talk Details
Date: Sunday, 30 June 2024
Time: 11AM–12PM
Venue: 11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120

Join us for an intimate session with Richard Hassell (), artist and Founding Director of WOHA architects (), and Aaron Teo; Associate Director of The Private Museum, and explore more about the process in reimagining the Osborne House and the conceptualisation of ‘Strange Connections’. Discover complex relationships between the house’s owners, occupants, and tenants dating back to the 1820s, and be inspired by the uncanny connections discovered in the Osborne House.

🔗 Please note that registration is mandatory as seats are limited. Click the link in our bio to reserve a slot now!

"Architecture is like a camera that captures stories over time. Something profound about time, space, and locality emerges from revealing the narratives that intersect in a single room.” — Richard Hassell (), Founding Director of WOHA (WOHA Architects)

'Strange Connections' offers a glimpse into Richard Hassell's investigations into emergent phenomena through his use of abstract tiling and systems, while inviting contemplation between the physical and the abstract, and the historical and contemporary. Share in the strange connections that exist within the Osborne House through Hassell's lens, and revel in the relationship between science, history, and humanity.

'Strange Connections: Art and Architecture' by Richard Hassell is open at The Private Museum until 28 July 2024.

Thank you for joining us last Thursday on 30 May 2024 for the Opening Reception of Strange Connections: Art and Architecture by Richard Hassell. It was a wonderful experience to celebrate the interplay of art and architecture, history, and science, and the museum’s first anniversary in the Osborne House.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Guest-of-Honour, Ms Goh Swee Chen; Chairman of the National Arts Council (), for officiating the launch of this exhibition. Your presence added a touch of distinction to the event, helping us mark an important chapter in the history of the museum.

A special thank you to Dr Franck Bernède for his sublime musical performance that provided a lovely ambiance at our reception.

A big thank you to all our patrons, sponsors, supporting partners, and friends for your kind contributions and continued support of TPM that has helped us bring this exhibition to fruition. It was truly a wonderful experience getting to celebrate the value of history, science, art, and culture surrounded by our closest friends and supporters.

‘Strange Connections’ will run till 28 July 2024. We look forward to welcoming you to The Private Museum!

Supporting Partners:

Richard Hassell, founder of WOHA, is both an architect and artist. His previous exhibitions include 'Indra’s Net' opened in Taichung, Taiwan, in 2020, 'Strange Creatures, Emergent Nets' (Taipei, 2019), 'Knots and Nets' (Taipei, 2018), and 'Strange Creatures Complex Tessellations' (Singapore, 2018). Represented by Gallery Sun in Taiwan, Arndt Fine Art in Europe, Walker Fine Art in the USA, Hassell’s artworks are in private collections worldwide, including the USA, UK, Italy, and Australia, and in the Australian National University and Queensland University collection. His pieces have been exhibited in Art Science Museum in Singapore, Museo d’Arte Popular in Lisbon, StadtGalerie Galleriy Civica Palazzo delle Arti in Naples, Museo Maritim de Barcelona, Palazzo Ducale in Genoa, Museo degli Innocenti in Florence, Palazzo Buonoparte in Rome and the Museum of Art in Deland, Florida.

Sharing the intricate relationship between art and architecture that explores history, science and the web of connections that link us all, 'Strange Connections: Art and Architecture' underscores Hassell's investigations into emergent phenomena through playful visual constructions while inviting contemplation between the physical and the abstract, and the historical and the contemporary.

'Strange Connections' opens at The Private Museum on 30 May 2024. See you there!

The Private Museum cordially invites you to celebrate our first anniversary at the Osborne House with us at the Opening Reception of 'Strange Connections: Art and Architecture' by Richard Hassell

Opening Reception
Date: Thursday, 30 May 2024
Time: 6.30–9.30PM
Venue: 11 Upper Wilkie Road, 228120
The Private Museum

The Museum is honoured to feature a special performance by renowned Cellist and Ethnomusicologist Franck Bernède. For close to 15 years, Bernède has captivated audiences with his expertise in Baroque repertoire, bridging the East and West through his music.

Join us for a sublime evening filled with music and wonder, and discover the interplay between art, architecture, and the web of connections that link us all.

As capacity is limited, please register your interest early via the link in our bio. Registration is mandatory for attendance. For more information about the exhibition, please write to us at [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming you at The Private Museum!

Thank you very much Eric Chua for your kind support towards The Private Museum Charity Golf 2024!

The Private Museum wishes all our friends a Blessed Good Friday!

In observance of Good Friday, the museum will be closed on Friday, 29 March 2024.

The Private Museum will resume operations on Saturday, 30 March 2024.

For more information, you may write to us at [email protected]. We look forward to welcoming you back at The Private Museum on 30 March 2024!

📢 Exhibition Extension

‘Chronic Compulsions: Selected Works from Art Addicts Anonymous’ is extending its run until 7 April 2024! If you haven’t yet, this is your chance to explore the stories of 15 participating private collections, and be inspired by the timeless and transformative power of art.

As part of the exhibition extension, The Private Museum will be conducting a public tour of the exhibition, led by one of the collectors from Art Addicts Anonymous. As capacity for the tour is limited, please register for your slot early.

Collector-Led Tour Details
Date: Saturday, 23 March 2024
Time: 2PM
Venue: The Private Museum
11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120

Register via the link in our bio now!

We look forward to welcoming you at The Private Museum!

The Private Museum wishes all our friends a very Happy Lunar New Year! 🧧

In observance of the Lunar New Year holiday, the museum will be closed from Friday, 9 February to Tuesday, 13 February 2024.

The Private Museum will resume operations on Wednesday, 14 February 2024.

For more information, you may write to us at [email protected]. We look forward to welcoming you back at The Private Museum on 14 February 2024!

Save the date for our cherished annual tradition, The Private Museum Charity Golf 2024 on 10 May 2024 at Laguna National Golf Resort Club.

Join us in our fourth edition of blending sport and philanthropy. Your donations will play a pivotal role in ensuring that our diverse range of exhibitions and programmes continue to thrive.

For more information about The Private Museum Charity Golf 2024 and to make a donation, click on the link in our bio. Should you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the team at [email protected].
�We look forward to seeing you on the greens! 🌟⛳️

Building a collection is “the process of actively, selectively, and passionately acquiring and possessing things removed from ordinary use and perceived as part of a set of non-identical objects or experiences.” — Russell Belk in Curator Michelle Ho’s essay ‘A Psychology Of Collecting’ (2024)

Embark on an enriching journey into the realm of art collecting with our latest publication, ‘Chronic Compulsions: Selected Works from Art Addicts Anonymous’, now available exclusively at our museum shop located at 11 Upper Wilkie Road.

Featuring a catalogue of artwork impressions from the exhibition, accompanied by insightful essays authored by curators Low Sze Wee, Michelle Ho, and Michael Lee, secure your copy soon and join us in an exploration of artistic expression. 📚

The Private Museum is incredibly grateful for the incredible media coverage that has brought our exhibition to the spotlight! 🌟

Sending heartfelt gratitude to the amazing media outlets that showcased our exhibition, shared our story, and brought art to an even broader audience.

The exhibition will run till 24 March 2024 and we look forward to welcoming more visitors to The Private Museum!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at The Private Museum for the opening of 'Chronic Compulsions: Selected Works from Art Addicts Anonymous' on 11 January 2024.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed Guest-of-Honour, Mrs Rosa Daniel, for gracing us with her presence and officiating the launch of this exhibition.

To our incredible patrons, sponsors, supporting partners, and friends—thank you for your unwavering support. It was heartening to witness everyone come together to converse and enjoy the incredible selection of artworks from 15 private collections. We hope this exhibition continues to inspire and motivate people to come forward in supporting our arts and cultural landscape.

'Chronic Compulsions: Selected Works from Art Addicts Anonymous' will run till 24 March 2024.

We look forward to welcoming you at The Private Museum!

Installation views of 'Chronic Compulsions: Selected Works from Art Addicts Anonymous'. We hope your Singapore Art Week has been nothing short of extraordinary. This exhibition will run until 24 March 2024.

For more information, please reach out to us at [email protected].

We look forward to welcoming you at The Private Museum!

Curator's Talk & Publication Launch

Date: 20 January 2024, Saturday
Time: 11am–12pm
Venue: 11 Upper Wilkie Road, Singapore 228120
The Private Museum

Hear from curators Low Sze Wee, Michelle Ho and Michael Lee as we delve into the stories of 15 participating collections from Art Addicts Anonymous, and celebrate the values of friendship and community. Explore the complex and transformative realm of art collecting, and be inspired by a decade of passion and purpose.

The exhibition publication for Chronic Compulsions will be available for purchase at the museum starting from 20 January 2024.

Register for your slot via the link in bio.

We look forward to welcoming you to The Private Museum!

🖼️ Why collect art?

Over a decade ago, Art Addicts Anonymous (AAA) was founded within a chat group on messaging platform WhatsApp.

Since then, what began as a series of chance encounters in museums and galleries has evolved into a fellowship of art lovers brought together by a common appreciation for art and art collecting.

Chronic Compulsions uncovers the stories of 15 participating collections from AAA, unveiling the experiences, pursuits, and desires of the different collectors involved. Join us in celebrating a decade of passion and purpose, and be inspired by the collaboration between The Private Museum, Art Addicts Anonymous, and the arts community.

Catch Chronic Compulsions: Selected Works from Art Addicts Anonymous on 11 January as part of SG Art Week 2024. See you at The Private Museum!

As part of Singapore Art Week 2024, The Private Museum is delighted to announce the launch of ‘Chronic Compulsions: Selected Works from Art Addicts Anonymous’, an exhibition showcasing the groundbreaking collaboration between a local private museum, private collectors and seasoned curators.

This unique exhibition marks the 10th anniversary of the formation of Art Addicts Anonymous—a collectors’ circle that has evolved from a casual gathering of art lovers into a strong community of collectors who want to share their passion for art with society at large.

Chronic Compulsions unveils a remarkable selection of over 40 modern and contemporary works from 15 participating collections from Singapore, each piece bearing a personal connection to its collector.

As we celebrate a decade of passion and purpose, this exhibition is testament to the timeless nature of art and its transformative power. It represents the synergies between The Private Museum, Art Addicts Anonymous, and the arts community, injecting value and vibrancy into the Singapore art scene.

We look forward to welcoming you at The Private Museum on 11 January 2024!

This exhibition will run from 11 January to 24 March 2024. For more information, please reach out to us at [email protected].

“Draw the dance, and not the dancer.” — Ian de Souza

As part of ‘Rhythmic Resonance’, artists Ian de Souza and Andy Yang conducted six sessions of the Life Drawing Workshops for friends of the museum and members of the public.

Participants were shown techniques on how to embody the physicality and spirit of a live model, and encouraged to explore new ways to think and create. Heavily inspired by the Life Drawing Workshops Ian de Souza would conduct in his Garden Studio back home in Perth, the workshops offered participants a glimpse into the basics of charcoal drawing, and provided a space to grow and experiment.

Catch ‘Rhythmic Resonance: A Collaboration Beyond Boundaries by Andy Yang & Ian de Souza’ before it closes on 10 December 2023.

The Private Museum Singapore held our Annual Gala 2023 for the very first time in our new home at 11 Upper Wilkie Road and would like to extend our deepest gratitude to you for being a part of it. Your presence added a special touch to the evening, and we truly appreciate the support we have received. We have successfully secured donations exceeding $230,000, rounding up to impressive total of $250,000 through your generous support.

Your generosity for our fundraiser is instrumental in shaping the future of our museum as well as supporting our upcoming programs and operations. We could not have achieved the success of our Annual Gala without your dedicated support.

A special thank you to our esteemed guest of honour, Professor Kishore Mahbubani, and Sotheby’s Auctioneer, Rishika Assomull, for gracing the event with your remarkable presence. Once again, thank you for being a vital part of our community.

Your contribution, big or small, has made all the difference and we look forward to continuing this journey together. We stay committed to our mission of making private collections accessible to the public, sustaining the careers of emerging and established arts practitioners, and creating outreach programmes for the public and underprivileged communities. We can’t wait to unveil more meaningful art programmes and offerings for you!