SINGAPORE – Imagine walking into a storybook world where you can hang out with whimsical animal and human characters. Or lying down in a museum, gazing up at suspended toys as you drift into a daydream.
Feeling well-rested? Unleash your best dance moves to create your own abstract digital painting.
These are some highlights you and your kids can look forward to at Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025. A perennial favourite arts event for young families, it returns with its fifth edition at the National Gallery Singapore from May 31, 2025, to March 29, 2026.
It will be a good opportunity to introduce kids to established artists such as YeSeung Lee from South Korea, Hiromi Tango from Japan and Singapore’s Wyn-Lyn Tan.
Fret not that your young ones will be bored or intimidated by their artworks. Past attendees can attest to how the biennale’s installations are playful and engaging for children of all ages, even babies.
This edition is no exception, judging from an exclusive preview for The Straits Times.
The biennale coincides with the gallery’s 10th anniversary and Singapore’s 60th birthday, hence inspiring the theme of Tomorrow We’ll Be…
Kids are encouraged to think about the boundless possibilities of their futures as they interact with eight installations, which also promote joy, kindness, love and dreams.
Above all, early exposure to the arts is known to be beneficial for children. Artistic engagement trains them to express themselves, understand others’ perspectives and have more insightful inquiries about their surroundings, says Lee.
The artist adds that the ability to ask meaningful questions is one of the most important skills that children should develop.
“Art helps nurture this skill by allowing them to make sense of the world through feeling, wonder and insight, and not just through facts,” she says.
The Straits Times speaks with six of the artists about their artworks for Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025.
Take a seat, feel the love
Spanish artist Vicente Delgado’s art installation invites kids to sit among an eclectic mix of animal and human characters.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Have you and your kids noticed how chairs play a significant role in daily life? They foster love and connections with family and friends, meals and conversations, artist Vicente Delgado points out.
Step into the Singapore-based Spanish artist’s imaginative world of I We Them, and take a seat within his whimsical creation at Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025.
The art installation, inspired by the value of love and the symbolism of chairs, invites kids to sit among an eclectic mix of animal and human characters.
When The Straits Times visits, the artist is adding the final touches and outlining some characters with a black marker. “I hope kids will be immersed in this happy place and have a fun time,” says Delgado, who has lived in Singapore for 25 years and is a lecturer at Lasalle College of the Arts’ School of Design Communication.
Known as Tito to his loved ones and students, the 61-year-old has incorporated interactive elements to create a welcoming vibe in the spacious room that houses his artwork.
For example, a large inflatable hand is placed near the entrance, inviting children to give it a high-five. He has also created a toddlers’ zone with spinning wheels and puzzles at their height, and included a large play mat for infants to explore.
Spanish artist Vicente Delgado’s art installation I We Them is inspired by the value of love and symbolism of chairs.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Introducing children to the arts at a young age is always a good idea. To spark a child’s interest for it and hone creativity, he says: “Parents should expose their kids to all forms of arts. Take them to the cinemas, theatres and events like the biennale.”
He enjoys drawing and encourages kids to doodle away, especially on paper. “While I also draw on a digital tablet, it’s a completely different experience from using paper. I feel we’re slowly losing a tactile connection and should get children to engage with paper more.”
Keep dreaming, regardless of age
Married couple Oscar Lee and Celine Tan adding the final touches to their art installation titled Fantasy for the Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
“Very comfy, very crazy” is not how one usually describes an artwork, but artists Celine Tan and Oscar Lee hope that is how your family will feel after experiencing their installation – with your shoes off, please.
Inside the National Gallery Singapore, the married couple, both 32, have transformed a hallway space into a dreamscape.
The squarish enclosure features soft flooring and large cushions covered in children’s clothes. There are also more than 400 toys suspended from the ceiling and adorning the walls, evoking childhood memories.
Tan and Lee, known as Malaysian art duo Co2_karbondioksida, have been using their artistic practice to raise awareness about environmental issues. Co2 combines the initials of their names while the number 2 symbolises their collaboration, and karbondioksida means carbon dioxide in Malay.
Created for the Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025, their Fantasy artwork invites manifold interpretations.
“As you are growing up, many people will tell you that you have to do this or that. There are various ‘boxes’ to tick and check in life, and sometimes you struggle to follow what is expected of you,” says Tan.
But one that you should hold dear is your “dream box”. “That’s where you can have fun imagining, without rules and restrictions. We hope that children and adults will always have their space to dream,” she adds.
Married couple Celine Tan and Oscar Lee are the artists behind Malaysian art duo Co2_karbondioksida.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
All clothing and toys used in their art installation are pre-loved pieces donated by social enterprise Cloop, which collected them through its iconic yellow recycling bins around Singapore.
The husband-and-wife team repurposed about 130kg of donated baby clothes into covers for the flooring and cushions. They also contributed their two-year-old daughter Quinn’s outgrown clothing. The textiles will be rotated regularly for washing to ensure they remain clean.
Lee says they are always looking for discarded materials to make artworks and highlight environmental concerns, such as waste and recycling.
“It’s a global issue. Things are easy to get, so we tend to buy and throw. But we also want to show that it’s easy to upcycle the materials into artworks,” he says.
While assembling the kidswear for the art installation, a striking observation emerged.
“Have you noticed how children’s clothes have such colourful prints and patterns? But as we age, our clothing choices often become more plain. What happened?” Tan asks, laughing as she looks at their subdued outfits.
“We encourage kids and adults to take a moment to lie down here and reflect on the changes in their lives.”
Dancing in nature, indoors
Singaporean artist Wyn-Lyn Tan dances to trigger visual effects, such as misty clouds and a hidden “portal”, on her interactive art installation Dance Dance Chromatics.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Singaporean contemporary artist Wyn-Lyn Tan’s interactive art installation Dance Dance Chromatics invites you and your kids to create abstract digital paintings through movements at the Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025.
Upon entering the space, you are greeted by a looping sequence of Tan’s nature-inspired abstract paintings. Now, step and wave to activate the feet and hand sensors, a la the classic arcade game Dance Dance Revolution. This allows you to trigger up to eight visual effects, such as snowfall, misty clouds and aurora borealis.
Those who discover a specific dance sequence will be rewarded with a hidden “portal” effect onscreen – and the bragging title of dancing king or queen.
Originally trained in Chinese ink painting, Tan is inspired by the natural world and its unseen forces. Her artworks have been exhibited in Singapore, Norway, New York and Hong Kong.
“I’ve always likened my process of painting to dancing as I move around the canvas,” the 50-year-old says of her interactive artwork. It is the composite of more than 1,000 images of her canvas paintings from the past decade, and put together with an artificial intelligence software.
Singaporean artist Wyn-Lyn Tan’s interactive art installation Dance Dance Chromatics is a playful way for kids to be introduced to paintings and connect with nature. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
“A painting can be more than just a static, two-dimensional work on the wall. In this case, kids can use movements to express themselves and create their own abstract digital painting,” she adds.
Dance Dance Chromatics is also a playful way for kids to connect with nature.
“My abstract paintings are inspired by my experiences and observations in nature, and the joy I find there. Nature allows us to slow down, a welcome change from our fast-paced, Instagrammable lives,” she says.
“For children who may not spend much time outdoors, I hope that entering this space will spark a sense of wonder and encourage them to discover playful possibilities. Nature is far from boring.”
Learning about kindness, one petal at a time
Japanese artist Hiromi Tango’s Kindness Garden artwork features petals inscribed with words such as gentle, love and grace, each accompanied by Braille engravings.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
An enchanting garden with oversized flowers has sprouted inside the National Gallery Singapore, near its Keppel Centre for Art Education on level 1.
These pastel-coloured petals, seemingly delicate, are actually crafted from metal. A closer inspection reveals words such as gentle, love and grace inscribed on each one, accompanied by Braille engravings.
Titled Kindness Garden, it is artist Hiromi Tango’s art installation for the Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025.
“Braille was a starting point for me as I have had a long-standing interest in the idea of healing circles and cycles,” she tells ST. The 49-year-old Japanese, who is based in Australia, is known for her artworks that promote healing and wellness.
Braille is a tactile code that helps the visually disabled to read by using touch.
Tango started thinking about ways to introduce children to Braille, encourage empathy for those with different needs, and build a kinder and inclusive society.
The selection of pastel hues was not solely based on visual appeal. “Over many years, I have researched the healing power of colours and this is always an important consideration for me when developing the concept,” she says.
“Each colour is closely associated with a feeling. Some colours help to create a feeling of calm, while others are more energising.”
She further developed an intentionally slow sound piece that resonates within the soft palette, creating a calm and harmonious space.
As children step into Kindness Garden, she wants them to feel safe to be themselves and to extend kindness to others, especially those who may be different from them.
Her artwork is designed to be inclusive and engaging for children of all ages, and the adults who accompany them.
There are domes which offer a calming retreat for kids who may need a moment of quiet to recharge. Babies and toddlers can also enjoy the tactile and sensory elements, which support early learning through touch, sight and sound.
“Ultimately, I hope the installation becomes a soft and welcoming space that encourages children to imagine a kinder, more connected world,” she says.
The joy of open-ended creation as hybrid creatures come alive
South Korean artist YeSeung Lee combines traditional painting with contemporary digital media in her artwork titled Imaginary Peach Garden. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
South Korean artist YeSeung Lee’s installation for the Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025 is inspired by mythical creatures from folklores of Korea, Singapore and South-east Asia, alongside her childhood memories of playing tazo puzzles.
In her signature style, the 49-year-old combines traditional painting with digital media in her artwork Imaginary Peach Garden.
Kids can look forward to designing hybrid animals using foam puzzle pieces and bringing their creations to life on a projector screen through an augmented-reality app.
The experience offers them the joy of open-ended creative exploration, where “there is no single answer or perfect form”, she says.
“It encourages them to embrace differences, take pleasure in combining unexpected elements and recognise the value of their own unique expressions.”
Kids can look forward to creating hybrid creatures using foam puzzle pieces and bringing their creations to life on a projector screen.ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO
Although her previous installations have been enjoyed by audiences of all ages, including children, this biennale marks the first instance where her artwork is specifically designed for kids.
“It challenged me to think more deeply about accessibility, play and intuitive interaction from a child’s perspective,” she says.
She conceived the idea of adding rocks, an iconic motif in traditional ink art, in the form of inflatables.
These inflatables deflate and expand rhythmically. “They are almost like living organisms, evoking a sense of humour, wonder and unexpected vitality,” she says.
“Through the movements, I hope to help children understand that things and ideas can transform.”
Book it/Gallery Children’s Biennale 2025
Where: National Gallery Singapore, 1 St Andrew’s Road
When: May 31, 2025, to March 29, 2026; 10am to 7pm daily
Admission: Free
Info: nationalgallery.sg/GCB2025
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