Singapore’s ArtScience Museum is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a profound look inward. In an major international partnership with the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the institution will premiere Flesh and Bones: The Art of Anatomy on March 21, 2026. This extensive exhibition bridges the gap between clinical science and artistic expression, tracing how centuries of ritual, research, and creative inquiry have defined our understanding of the human physique.
A Global Perspective on the Human Body
Drawing from the Getty’s prestigious historical archives, the show features more than 160 works. Visitors can expect an expansive timeline that includes everything from rare anatomical atlases and intricate woodcuts to massive contemporary installations. The collection highlights how the “inner self” has been mapped not just through a lens of biology, but through cultural and spiritual fascination.
While the Getty’s research forms the backbone of the show, the Singapore edition offers a unique regional perspective. The exhibition integrates the history of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda, two of the world’s oldest medical frameworks. This Eastern lens provides a holistic counterpoint to Western anatomical studies, emphasizing energy and balance alongside physical structure.
From Scientific Specimens to Immersive Art
The exhibition balances the clinical with the transcendental. On the scientific front, the museum has partnered with the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU to showcase authentic scientific specimens. Attendees will also encounter plastinated human anatomy from the renowned von Hagens Plastination Institute, famous for its visceral preservation of the human form.
The artistic curation is equally heavyweight, featuring a roster of 33 international and regional artists. Highlights include:
- Chiharu Shiota: The Japanese installation artist has created a site-specific work, The Network Within, featuring her signature intricate thread weaving.
- Bill Viola and Barbara Hammer: These pioneers of video and experimental film present works that explore the mortality and resilience of the body.
- Regional Voices: Singapore’s own Amanda Heng and Wendi Yan join Thai artist Pinaree Sanpitak to provide modern interpretations of the body as a site of identity and technology.
Redefining the “Anatomical Lesson”
Beyond simple observation, Flesh and Bones invites a deeper philosophical question: what does it mean to inhabit a body? By placing a 2023 virtual reality experience like Evolver by Marshmallow Laser Feast alongside centuries-old medical texts, the exhibition demonstrates that our curiosity about our “internal machinery” is timeless.
Planning Your Visit
Flesh and Bones: The Art of Anatomy will run from March 21 through August 16, 2026. Given the high-profile nature of the Getty collaboration and the museum’s milestone anniversary, advance booking is recommended.
- Dates: March 21 – August 16, 2026
- Location: ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay Sands
- Tickets: Starting at $16.50
- Where to Buy: Marina Bay Sands Official Site
For those looking to fill their cultural calendar, 2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for the Lion City. After exploring the human form at the ArtScience Museum, you can look forward to the opening of Asia’s first immersive Minecraft experience this April or the upcoming teamLab flagship at Gardens by the Bay.