case study: land transport authority

Case Study: Land Transport Authority

Date : 26/03/2018

Featuring the work of Singaporean artists, the board overseeing the transport system, LandTransport Authority (LTA), started the Art in Transit (AIT) program with the goal to give eachmetro station its own unique identity. A unique identity that echoes the surroundingneighborhood providing riders with a sense of place and wayfinding, as well as creatingdialogue within the local community. Assistant Manager, Eileen Goh, describes the AIT programas an “excellent platform to reach out to the community and showcase the talents ofSingaporeans to the world through a permanent exhibition of creativity and talent from the localpopulation.” The successful program has been changing the face of metro stations island-widefor over 20 years and sees no sign of stopping.

CeramicSteel Blends Architecture with Art

The AIT program is an ideal blend of large-scale construction and handmade craft. Multiplecomponents must come together to guarantee the technical, economic and safety needs ofeach station. When sourcing material for the artwork multiple requirements arise. It must bedurable and easy to maintain as it’s exposed to millions of people per day. It also must beaesthetically pleasing, allowing the artwork to take center stage while it provides a flawlessrepresentation of the piece with fluidity and vivid color.

PolyVision CeramicSteel meets every requirement. Light-gauge vitreous, also known asporcelain, enamel panels provide a seamless image and show the intricacies of detailed art.CeramicSteel is fadeproof and the perfect solution for permanent architecture. The positiveproduct performance over the years has created a strong relationship between PolyVision and

© 2019 PolyVision. is the leading manufacturer of CeramicSteel surfaces for use in whiteboards, chalkboards and an array of architectural

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https://www.lta.gov.sg/content/ltaweb/en/public-transport/mrt-and-lrt-trains/art-and-architecture/art-in-transit/overview.html

LTA. Singapore-based PolyVision representative Ronald Lee notes that the relationshipbetween LTA and PolyVision extends from the program’s inception to today. “It’s a longrelationship as we were contracted for two of 16 stations on the North-East Line when theprogram was first introduced, the Potong Pasir and Boon Keng Stations.”

A quality product with excellent properties for heavy-traffic environments, CeramicSteel is usedthroughout multiple LTA metro lines, and not only where the art is displayed. Architectural wallsand elements accompany the works of art, adding dimension throughout the station. From oneof the first stations at Boon Keng to the one of the latest, Expo Station, large module panels addan element of grandeur to the stations and accent the commissioned art.


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Boon Keng, one of the first two stations, was completed in 2000 with CeramicSteel panelsadding depth to architectural elements.

The entrance at the Tampines Central Station is enhanced with architectural walls made oflarge CeramicSteel panels to create an expensive and welcoming atmosphere.


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Expo Stations is one of the most recent AIT program installations. The blue CeramicSteelpanels create a beautiful, smooth background that lets the art take center stage.

The process — from concepts to installation — at three recent stations showcases how valuablethe AIT program is for the communities it serves, and how CeramicSteel rose above typicalchallenges to make the visions a reality. As Lee describes, it’s not as easy as one might think.“Art is not an absolute science; it requires a certain depth and perception of the subject whichcan only be bridged with a qualified liaison between the artist and the main contractor.” Leenotes this bridge is delicately managed by Goh and LTA’s Vincent Lee and Tan Swee Lin, whoaltogether manage the artwork and the AIT program.

Bendemeer Station

“And a New World” by printmaker and mixed media artist, Cristene Chang, brings together themany intersecting cultures and interests found in the Kallang, Lavender and Jalan Besarregions where the Bendemeer station resides. Performing deep ethnographic research, Changwalked through the surrounding neighborhoods, taking in her city with a new eye. Her personalon-site photographs of archival architecture, patterns, colors and motifs throughout the area areincorporated directly into the piece, giving the artwork authenticity and relevance for the local


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people.

Chang describes her piece as a “mixed-media artwork comprising the techniques ofprintmaking, painting, stitching, collage and overlaying fabrics.” With an intricate piece comesthe need for intricate material. Lee explains this was the main reason why CeramicSteel waschosen for the project. “The intricacies of the art required precision, which is why light-gaugepanels were selected.”


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Each motif in Chang’s artwork represents an element of the surrounding area. The five petalledHibiscus, known as Bunga Raya in Malay, is popular on batik and signifies joy and celebration.The French lace is a reference to European culture infused into the Jalan Besar area and therepresents delicacy and refinement.

Once the Art Review Panel — a nine-member board appointed by LTA to provide guidance andensure quality, artistic integrity and the representation of artists from a diversity of backgrounds— approved Chang’s second concept, she got to work. Providing multiple drawings to LTA,together they foresaw a few challenges. In the past, hues of magenta on other panels didn’tturn out as vivid as other colors, and screen-printing artwork lacked the detail they hoped for.

CeramicSteel surpassed expectations. Needing to show fine detail, the PolyVision team decidedto digitally print the art rather than use the traditional screen-printing method. Chang’s drawingwas 3D scanned in Germany, and then two small samples were digitally printed in PolyVision’sBelgium location for a color and detail test. Magenta was heavily represented in the piece withas much fidelity as any other color and very subtle effects — such as stitching and overlayingfabric — were conveyed far better than expected. More of these hand-done techniques wereadded to the art because the vitreous enamel so clearly highlighted Chang’s detail work. Twofull-size panels were produced for another round of review before the remaining eight panels


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were delivered and fitted out in Singapore.

The end result shows “And a New World” with a depth and nuance that showcases Chang’sartistic vision and the neighborhoods it represents. CeramicSteel provided the ideal palette forChang’s emotive depiction of the contrasting activities, social layers and past and present ofthe area, giving herself and every area resident a connection to home.

Tampines East and West Stations

Community. It was the main goal for Jing Quek, the artist commissioned by LTA to design theartwork for the Tampines East and West Stations. One glance at the massive image compiled ofindividual photographs of local citizens and nearby architecture, and you can clearly see heachieved his mission.

To develop his concept, Quek started with researching imagery of Tampines, an urban city inSingapore. Drawing inspiration from historical photography and dense group shots he landed onthe idea to create large panoramas filled with location markers that residents would recognizeand images of the residents themselves. To get local citizens to participate, he created flyersdescribing the photoshoot and its intention to ‘star’ local residents. Asking people to show up intheir everyday clothing to capture the real Tampines, Quek photographed 250 people for eachlocation.


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Large panels in complementing colors add an element of grandeur as residents ride theescalator at Tampines West.

As Quek was capturing his subjects, the contractors for the project were deciding which materialwould display his work. The piece needed to have no visible joints between panels — so facialfeatures were fluid — looking like one continuous photograph. It also needed to show crisp detail,so even the smallest photographs were recognizable. Not only did CeramicSteel provide a fluidimage across multiple panels, but the PolyVision team digitally printed Quek’s work whichavoided the fading that would come with a laser-ink printing process.


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© 2019 PolyVision. is the leading manufacturer of CeramicSteel surfaces for use in whiteboards, chalkboards and an array of architecturalapplications.

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Quek’s artwork showcases 250 Tampines residents and area landmarks at both the East andWest stations.

To start the typical process of installing artwork, a small selection of the art is enlarged to a 1:1scale and test printed. Strike-offs (1,100 mm x 600 mm) are either approved or sent back toreprint with edits. Knowing that Quek’s piece was very detailed, the PolyVision team decidedagainst the normal process, producing the strike-off on full-size panels (3,000 mm x 1,100 mm).This allowed Quek to better evaluate if the entire piece would come out as he envisioned.These panels were approved, and production began.

PolyVision’s expertise and capabilities, along with the high level of trust with the LTA and asmooth process with architects and contractors, fostered an end result the team was happywith. Thirty-eight panels, each 1150.84 mm x 3000 mm to fit the perfect proportions of theimage, showcase an authentic Tampines that represents the city to visitors and locals alike.

Art in Transit Creates Culture

The AIT program benefits the communities of Singapore in a multitude of ways. Young-undiscovered artists have the opportunity to showcase their work to millions. The programpreserves traditions, architecture and symbols from the past and shares them with a newgeneration. As Goh describes, the AIT program “showcases local heritage and culture creatingan artistic legacy that will be enjoyed by millions of Singaporeans and visitors for generations.”

The engagement with citizens and dialogue within the communities has been so successful andwide-spread that LTA partnered with Art Outreach, a local non-profit with the mission to connectpeople who may not come in contact with art often, exposure to it across the city. Together theyoffer AIT Walking Tours where a guide shares the artworks’ narratives and explains how thepieces were produced. Over 10,000 people have taken the tour.

The AIT program is an example of Singapore’s talent and values — showcasing the city’s beliefthat art should be integrated with life and isn’t a luxury only for the elite. It blends art andarchitecture, reality and surrealism and the past with the future. Goh captures the significance ofthe AIT program, saying it, “fuses art in every part of our daily activities and serves to cultivate amore gracious society over time by making the concept of art available to everyone. As thestations are key transport nodes used by millions of people from all walks of life each and everyday, the AIT program is an effective means of reaching out to a larger diverse community andinstilling a greater sense of civic pride.”

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case study: land transport authority

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