The Eras of Art

The Eras of Art

2024, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore

---

To mark the arrival of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Singapore, National Gallery Singapore presented The Eras of Art Tour: a special installation connecting music and visual art through the emotions that define each era. To represent the Red Era, the Gallery acquired three works from Kumari Nahappan’s Suara series: Movement 2A, 2B, and 2C.

Red has long been a central colour in Kumari’s practice. For her, it holds deep meaning—linked to childhood memories, rituals, and everyday experiences. It symbolises power, energy, and emotion; whether that’s love, anger, or transformation. Her use of red isn’t just for visual impact; it’s a way to express intensity and movement, much like how Swift’s Red album captures raw, complicated feelings.

In the context of The Eras of Art Tour, these paintings mirror the Red Era’s themes: love, heartbreak, rage, and rebirth. Swift’s bold lyricism finds a visual echo in Kumari’s brushwork, both artists exploring the spectrum of red as a language of emotion. Together, they offer a synesthetic tribute to an era defined by fearless expression.