Raden Salah. Boschbrand (Forest Fire). 1849. Oil on canvas, 300 x 396 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore. This work has been adopted by Yong Hon Kong Foundation.
“Order is essential," the transcontinental Fernando Zóbel once remarked. This philosophy guided both his artistic practice and his methodical exploration of the world. Yet, within this order, his work reveals a tension between structure and spontaneity.
This survey of his art invites you to travel with Zóbel to North America, Asia and Europe, where he practised from the 1940s to the 1980s. You will see his fascination with art history and American Abstract Expressionism in Boston and Rhode Island, his experiments with the syringe as a device for painting in Manila, his deft compositions of black paint on white canvases in Madrid, and his homage to the landscapes of Cuenca. As we trace his travels across the world, we will discover how modernism took different forms in each place and time.
When: 9 May – 30 Nov 2025
Suitable For: Adults, Families, Visitors 65 and above, Visitors with accessibility needs, Students and Educators
Where: Level 4, Wu Guanzhong Gallery and Level 4 Gallery, City Hall Wing
Visit Information
When:
Now till 25 Nov 2025
Where:
Level 4, Wu Guanzhong Gallery and Level 4 Gallery, City Hall Wing
For access to our ticketed spaces and exhibitions, an admission pass is required.
Free admission to all areas for Gallery Insiders, children aged 6 and under, locally based students and teachers, and persons with disabilities along with one caregiver.
General Admission pass
A free General Admission pass grants one-time entry to selected exhibitions and tours, valid for 180 days from the purchase date.
Looking to explore it all? Singapore citizens and permanent residents who purchase a Special Exhibition (Local) pass receive an automatic upgrade to an All Access Pass. This pass grants access to all exhibitions and tours and is valid for 180 days from the purchase date.
Concession rates of $5 off apply to all pass types for children aged 7–12, seniors aged 60 and above, full-time National Servicemen (excluding foreign personnel), and overseas students and teachers from qualifying institutions.
General Admission pass
A General Admission pass grants one-time entry to selected exhibitions and tours, valid for 180 days from the purchase date.
Concession rates of $5 off apply to all pass types for children aged 7–12, seniors aged 60 and above, full-time National Servicemen (excluding foreign personnel), and overseas students and teachers from qualifying institutions.
Before you visit
Some parts of the Gallery may be cold, so please bring along a jacket just in case.
More information about accessibility and etiquette at the Gallery can be found at Visitor Information.
Access advisory
Wheelchair Accessibility: The exhibition is wheelchair-accessible.
Seating: There is limited seating available throughout the exhibition. Please note that the seats do not have armrests or backrests.
Lighting: The exhibition space is well-lit.
Exhibition Content: Exhibition texts are available in both English and Chinese. They are also available in Malay and Tamil as digital files, which can be accessed via the QR code at the entrance of the exhibition.
Audio-visual Material: Captions in English and Mandarin are available for the videos shown in the exhibition.
Fernando Zóbel (1924–1984) was a transcontinental artist who played a pivotal role in shaping modern art across the Philippines, Spain, and beyond. This exhibition charts Zóbel’s journey through four geographical sections, New England, Manila, Madrid and Cuenca, tracing the evolution of his work and influences.
Explore Zóbel’s artistic evolution from his early engagement with Expressionism and American Abstract Expressionism to his pioneering Saeta series, where he used a syringe to paint. His evolving abstraction—from the stark black-and-white contrasts of Serie Negra to the luminous landscapes of Cuenca— reflect his enduring dialogue with the past and the future.
Zóbel’s influence extended beyond his paintings. In Manila, he founded the Ateneo Art Gallery, the first museum of modern Philippine art. Later in Spain, he championed postwar abstraction, establishing the Museo de Arte Abstracto Español.
Fernando Zóbel: Order is Essential builds on Zóbel: The Future of the Past, which opened at Museo Nacional del Prado (2022) in Spain and was later restaged at the Ayala Museum (2024) in the Philippines. Expanding on key narratives, the Gallery’s distinct and fresh iteration introduces exclusive works and offers fresh insights.
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