National Gallery Singapore Unveils “Temple”: A Sonic Installation Turning War’s Wounds into Healing Sound

The National Gallery Singapore invites visitors to experience Temple by Tuan Andrew Nguyen, a powerful new installation that transforms remnants of war into instruments of peace and reflection. Opening 25 October 2025 at the Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery, Temple marks the Gallery’s first interactive rooftop installation to integrate motion, sound, and public participation.

Sounding Out Memory and Healing

At once haunting and meditative, Temple features percussive instruments crafted from defused unexploded ordnance (UXO) salvaged from Quảng Trị, a central Vietnamese province once devastated by war. Visitors are invited to strike suspended shells, gongs, and chimes, each producing tones carefully tuned to create a harmonious soundscape of reflection and renewal.

Among these, the MK82 bell resonates at 432Hz, a frequency often associated with healing and balance. Through the simple act of striking, visitors are invited to engage with the physical remnants of conflict and transform their violent origins into acts of resonance and remembrance.

From Destruction to Contemplation

Visually, Temple commands attention with its day-glo safety orange hue, a colour both reminiscent of modernist sculpture and a direct reference to warning markers used in Vietnam to signal areas contaminated by UXO. The structure’s sculptural form draws inspiration from the limestone hills of Chùa Hương (the Perfume Pagoda), a Buddhist pilgrimage site where Nguyen’s grandmother once sought refuge.

In merging form, history, and sound, Temple becomes a poetic space where the echoes of war give rise to harmony, turning instruments of destruction into symbols of endurance and hope. Visitors are also encouraged to sit on woven water hyacinth mats, embracing moments of calm and contemplation amid the installation’s immersive soundscape.

Part of Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention

Temple is presented as part of Singapore Biennale 2025: pure intention, commissioned by the National Arts Council (Singapore) and organised by the Singapore Art Museum. The Biennale runs from 31 October 2025 to 29 March 2026, featuring works that explore sincerity, healing, and human connection across the region.

A Continuing Series of Site-Specific Commissions

Part of the Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Commission series, now in its eighth edition, Temple follows installations by renowned artists including Lisa Reihana, Cao Fei, Antony Gormley, Shilpa Gupta, Rirkrit Tiravanija, and Danh Võ. The series is made possible through a gift from Far East Organization.

Exhibition Details

• Venue: Ng Teng Fong Roof Garden Gallery, Level 5, City Hall Wing, National Gallery Singapore
• Dates: 25 October 2025 – 11 October 2026
• Admission: Free