Visual artist Kumari Nahappan is behind some of Singapore’s most recognisable public sculptures

Over more than three decades since, she developed an extensive body of work, including paintings, installations and sculptures, and exhibited internationally across Asia, Europe and the US. She considers her first two public art commissions, for the aforementioned Pedas Pedas in 2006, and then Saga a year later, as the turning point in her artistic journey. “Being a conceptual artist, installations, paintings and sculptures run parallel to my practice. They are part of exploring ideas on impermanence and permanence. Time, space and energy are constants in my art-making,” Kumari says. The move from two- to three-dimensional work was a natural progression. “Choosing simple subject matters to tell stories by making them larger than life became a way of expression. It was a way of celebrating the ordinary as they took on larger than life forms,” she enthuses.

Her earlier training in space planning is helpful, especially for building installations and making sculptures. Kumari explains, “Understanding scale, material, form and colour intuitively are the hallmark of all my creations, be it painting, sculpture or installation. But I’ve to admit, even till today, I’m still learning as I’m constantly experimenting with materials and compositions. Every material comes with a challenge.”

Most of her sculptures are site-specific, each telling its own story. “It’s a starting point to explore more,” Kumari tells us. For example, the chilli pepper is located at the site of Singapore’s first botanic garden and spice plantation. The saga seed, also known as the love seed, greets you when you arrive at the airport—a symbol of love, welcome and Singapore itself, which is often referred to as the “little red dot”. Meanwhile, the nutmeg and mace is a nod to the nutmeg plantations on the Orchard Road of yesteryear.

There are also works that evoke a sense of introspection. In January last year, Kumari presented Wings of Change, a six-metre saga seed inflatable installation at the Padang, as part of Light to Night Singapore 2024. The interactive work addresses the vanishing saga trees, no thanks to climate change, and the urgent action needed for sustainability and preservation.

Her next public commission, a giant orchid sculpture, or bunga bidadari in Malay, will be unveiled at the newly opened Bidadari Park sometime this year. “Moving forward, at some point if given the opportunity I would like to explore sculptures and installations on rooftops. It’ll be interesting to see some sculptures as markers of spaces when we fly, or are in a hot-air balloon ... I’m just imagining!”

While most of her art is presented in the physical space, Kumari is open to new perspectives on art-making. In 2022, as part of its Art Reimagined Singapore initiative, Meta invited her to collaborate with MeshMinds, a non-profit foundation and creative technology studio. The team created three AR (augmented reality) filters inspired by her Tango sculpture, featuring two intertwined chillies, building the 3D models and adding the animation to make her chillies dance.

Kumari is currently working on a body of work for an exhibition in New Delhi. “It’ll be paintings in the form of an installation where the story changes by placement, going back to the idea of an almanac,” she shares. “More importantly, the work has to speak to you with integrity before you share it with an audience.”

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