Dreams and Reality Exhibition - National Museum of Singapore

I recently visited the National Museum again, this time specifically to see the visiting Dreams and Reality exhibition.  I'd been made aware of this by another blogger, Singapore Actually who recently wrote a series of posts after her visit there and I decided I should go too.  The exhibition showcases over 140 pieces of art work housed at the Musee d'Orsay in Paris.  I do not pretend to be an art aficionado but I've always enjoyed visiting art galleries and I know what I like and enjoy.  To have this art work on loan and display here is, without doubt, a coup for Singapore.

The collection that has been brought to Singapore showcases Salon, Realists, Impressionists and Post-Impressionists paintings as well as photographs and drawings from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century.  It includes works by Paul Cezanne, Vincent van Gogh, Gustave Courbet, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet and many other famous artists of that period both male and female.  

Wandering around the paintings and soaking up the atmosphere they exude was a delightful way to spend an afternoon.  If you appreciate and admire art, regardless of how little you do or do not know (and I count myself in the latter there) I recommend you pay a visit to the museum and take in this exhibition whilst you can.

I love the way in which the artist has caught the light streaming through the window on to the workers below.  All the photos were taken with my phone and, of course, flash was not permitted so I apologise for the poor quality of some of the images.

I really liked how the women in all these paintings appear to be lost in their own thoughts and far away from the place they were being painted in.  It would be wonderful to know what they were all thinking.  

This portrait of death visiting a young woman fascinated me and I was transfixed for quite sometime admiring it.  

Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night

Although it was not painted in the UK this painting reminded me of a romanticised English summer's day in a country garden and drew me to it instantly.

The Dreams and Reality exhibition is on at the National Museum of Singapore until 5 February 2012.

The galleries are open daily from 10am - 6pm.

Adults - $11