Nine years. That’s how long the Museum of Contemporary Arts, or MOCA@Loewen as it was also known, graced Singapore’s art scene. It was a relatively short chapter but a vibrant one. The MOCA aimed to showcase the very best contemporary art from across the region.
Set within the lush greenery of Loewen Road, the museum provided a unique juxtaposition. Cutting-edge artworks stood in striking contrast to the colonial-era building that housed them. This blend of old and new added another layer of intrigue to the MOCA experience.
MOCA was the first museum in Singapore dedicated entirely to contemporary works when it opened in 2009. It quickly became a vital source for current trends and movements within the Asian art world. The museum achieved this by hosting continuously changing exhibitions and installations.
Linda Ma, MOCA’s co-owner, had been running Linda Gallery up the road in Dempsey. She won a tender to develop an integrated museum and art facility. The Museum of Contemporary Arts was the result of that win. It spanned three buildings and included exhibition areas, a cafe, and an outdoor sculpture garden. The MOCA offered free admission. It stayed afloat through art sales.
Over its nine years, MOCA showcased the work of more than 6000 artists. These artists came from both local and overseas. The museum also brought over 40 art exhibitions to Singapore. These exhibitions featured internationally renowned artists.
Sadly, the MOCA’s lease expired. The museum was not successful in a tender to renew it. The museum shut its doors in February 2019. The artworks were moved to Linda Gallery locations in Jakarta and Beijing. Despite the closure, Linda Ma expressed hope for a future reopening in Singapore. She believed Singapore was the best place for art in the region.
The space once occupied by MOCA has since been repurposed. Aurum Land’s subsidiary, Core Collective, now operates a co-working space for fitness and wellness professionals there. While MOCA may be gone, its impact on Singapore’s contemporary art scene remains. It fostered appreciation, provided a platform for artists, and enriched the cultural landscape.