Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold art exhibition
As we approach the holidays, it truly is a season to be jolly, especially for those with a penchant for art. They’ve got multiple spots to swing by on their museum dates, such as the beloved World of Studio Ghibli and thought-provoking The Art Of Banksy: Without Limits exhibits.
Well, another one’s headed our way this December in not-so-sunny Singapore: Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold. Like its name suggests, it’ll be featuring the Austrian artist’s most famous gold-infused works, making them pretty backdrops to spruce up your IG feed with. Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect.
Admission: From $33/adult, $23/child
Address: 4 Stadium Walk, #01-80 Sports Hub Library, Singapore 397697
Dates: From now till June 2025
Time: Tue-Sun 10am-8pm (Closed on Mondays)
What is Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold?
Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold is an art exhibition showcasing the works of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, who is known for his paintings, murals, sketches, and ornamental works of art which often feature prominent use of gold. Technology is also a big aspect of the exhibition, as visitors will be wowed by immersive projections and huge screens used for digital portraits.
You’ll witness some of Gustav Klimt’s most famous works such as Judith, The Tree of Life, The Kiss, and Adele Bloch-Bauer I being displayed on 360° projections and AI installations that will give you an up close and personal experience.
Image credit: Gustav Klimt: Falling In Gold
It’ll be up and running in Singapore from 6th December 2024 till June 2025 at Singapore Sports Hub Library in Kallang, from Tuesdays to Sundays, 10am-8pm. You can book your tickets via SISTIC, and admission starts from $33 for adults and $23 for children, students, and seniors. Entry is free for kids below 2 years old.
What to expect at Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold art exhibition?
The exhibition consists of 7 rooms spanning 1,460sqm, each showcasing Klimt’s various masterpieces in 2 storeys. Visitors will be able to not only view his works, but also learn more about the artist’s psyche and the meanings behind each painting.
Image credit: absolute PR
When you first enter the venue, you’ll get a glimpse of what the exhibition has to offer with Klimt’s Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, also known as The Lady in Gold being placed boldly near the entrance. It’s the magnum opus of the artist’s golden phase, and is adorned with opulent gold leaves. Fun fact: the oil painting was stolen by the Nazis in 1941, and was eventually sold at a world record price of USD$135 million in 2006.
Upon finishing your registration at the front desk counter on Level 1, your journey in this gold-plated exhibition will begin on Level 2. As you step through the door, you’ll be warmly greeted by a hallway summarising the works of Gustav Klimt as an artist.
Gustav created over 200 paintings and this hallway depicts the timeline from which his first painting, Old Burgtheater in Vienna, was made in 1888 to his last painting, Lady with a Fan, was made in 1918. Many of his original artworks were destroyed during the Nazi occupation and those that were salvaged are put on display today.
The hallway leads to a huge glowing amber orb decorated with orange tassels, which is meant to signify the gateway into the world of Gustav Klimt’s art. This is an ideal spot to whip out your phones and strike a masterful pose, as the vibrant backlight in the background makes for a vibey picture.
Hallway to The Kiss painting.
As you advance from this point, you’ll be walking through a hallway with dangling cut-ups of geometric shapes and patterns, and a reimagined version of The Kiss made from several wooden blocks at the end. While walking through the hallway, you can interact with the dangling elements and it’ll feel as though Gustav’s art is coming to life.
The Kiss is meant to symbolise the union between man and woman with the universe, conveying that love is the factor holding everything together. Upon a closer look, you’ll notice that the painting is made of hundreds of movable wooden blocks, just like a puzzle piece put together.
Next, you’ll be entering a room filled with Gustav Klimt’s real paintings. Many of his famous works such as Death and Life, Lady with Fan, The Kiss, and his Farm Garden with Sunflowers are displayed here, so you can see them from a close distance. The main inspiration for Gustav’s work is the female form, so you’ll notice many of his paintings focus on women as the main subjects.
A section you can’t miss out on in this room is definitely the interactive AI booth. It utilises facial and body movement recognition to generate an ang moh portrait of you, one that will simulate the gestures you do. Try out some funny poses and see how you would look like as an alternate Gustav Klimt-inspired version of yourself.
As you continue your journey back on the first floor, you’ll be transported into an immersive world filled with 360° projections of Gustav’s art being displayed on the walls. Many of Gustav’s masterpieces will be moving on these screens and there will be plush seats available for you to admire the projections.
A highlight of this exhibition is the golden tree here, inspired by the gold colour palettes used in Gustav’s paintings like The Kiss and The Lady in Gold. The entire tree from its leaves to its stem is plated in gold and illuminated by fairy lights. Feel free to touch the golden leaves and manifest some huat for your next 4D and TOTO bets.
Image credit: Gustav Klimt: Falling In Gold
Lastly, there will be a dark VR room where you’ll be using a VR headset to enter a world where Gustav Klimt’s works come to life. Each session will take about 8 minutes and you’ll be learning about the symbolism of his work as you travel through the different worlds created by his paintings – revolving around nature, human passion, and death.
Swing by Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold art exhibition this December
Image credit: absolute PR
With 360° projections, an immersive virtual reality zone, and an interactive AI booth, the Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold art exhibit definitely brings Gustav Klimt’s paintings to life. It will only take about 45-60 minutes to complete this exhibition, so don’t worry about your legs getting tired. The exhibit is here to stay till June 2025, so you’ve got plenty of time to head down to soak in all its glimmering glory.
Book tickets for the Gustav Klimt: Falling in Gold exhibition
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Photography by Eldora Chong.