Music for Mindfulness: The Gallery Edition

Commissioned by National Gallery Singapore and produced by The TENG Company (TENG), Music for Mindfulness: The Gallery Edition is a one-of-a-kind collaboration that brings together visual art, music, and wellbeing. Featuring four original compositions inspired by artworks from the National Collection, this initiative explores how the intersection of art and music can support reflection, wellbeing, and connection.

About the collaboration

National Gallery Singapore and The TENG Company (TENG) bring together visual art, music, and wellbeing in its first-ever collaboration Music for Mindfulness: The Gallery Edition, that transforms artworks from the National Collection into immersive soundscapes. Through four original compositions and dedicated listening experiences within the Gallery, the initiative explores how the intersection of art and music can support reflection, wellbeing, and connection, reinforcing the Gallery's commitment to being a space for care, wellness, and inclusivity.

Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the artwork curation was informed by an art therapist to ensure the inclusion of works that inspire positive emotions and well-being, while the development of the musical compositions incorporated perspectives from a music therapist alongside TENG's research-informed approaches to mindfulness music. The collaboration sits at the intersection of artistic practice, wellbeing and sensory engagement.

About The TENG Company

The TENG Company is Singapore’s leading not-for-profit arts company that reimagines the possibilities of Chinese music to expand creative boundaries, enrich the lives of the vulnerable, and empower lifelong learning. Recognised as a Major Company by the National Arts Council, TENG has, since 2005, reimagined the possibilities of Chinese music and pushed creative boundaries through performance, innovation, education, and social impact.

A not-for-profit arts organisation, TENG is committed to social impact. The company’s social impact programmes include creating and performing music that aids healing, brings comfort, and uplifts spirits amongst the vulnerable. The company also produces and conducts research into music created specially to promote mental wellness.

Find out more here

Ways to Experience

City Hall Wing, Level 2, Outside DBS Singapore Gallery 1

Soundscapes of Art Listening Space

Take a breather during your Gallery visit and experience the four original Music for Mindfulness: The Gallery Edition compositions in this dedicated space that is designed for rest, listening, and reflection.

City Hall Wing, Level B1

Calm Room

A dedicated space where visitors can rest if they are feeling over-stimulated or overwhelmed by their environment. In this soothing and sensory-friendly space, visitors can take the time to calm down, regulate their stress responses, and renew their focus, while listening to the four original Music for Mindfulness: The Gallery Edition compositions inspired by artworks in the Gallery's collection.

The Calm Room listening experience incorporates monaural beat elements, a soundwave frequency scientifically studied to promote mindfulness, evidenced by TENG's ongoing research into music and wellbeing. The focused environment supports immersive listening and encourages moments of calm, reflection, and restoration.

Find out more about TENG’s research initiatives here.

More information on the Calm Room can be found here.

Artworks

The four compositions draw inspiration from artworks currently on view in Singapore Stories: Pathways and Detours to Art, Gallery 2. Drawing on Singapore and Southeast Asia's multicultural musical heritage, the compositions feature a blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian musical influences through instruments such as the guzheng, pipa, erhu, sheng, bansuri, accordion, cello, and keyboard. Together, they create contemplative soundscapes that interpret the moods, colours, forms, and artistic sensibilities of the artworks in sonic form.