Commuting around Singapore is about to get a whole lot brighter. As part of its Art in Transit program – a project that aims to transform train stations into living, breathing public galleries – the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced plans to bring new artwork to 40 MRT stations along the North-South and East-West line.
The first wave will roll out at Bugis, Novena and Outram Park – stations that serve major healthcare hubs including Raffles Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Singapore General Hospital. The goal? To offer uplifting experiences for commuters passing through these high-traffic zones, proving that even a quick train ride can offer moments of calm, reflection and beauty.
Since its launch in 1997, Art in Transit has woven more than 500 artworks into 112 MRT stations across the city, reflecting Singapore’s storied, multicultural social fabric. Now, the program is expanding in its most ambitious way yet: 25 of the new installations will be community-led projects, while the other 15 will be artist commissions that capture the spirit of their surroundings.
To mark the announcement – and celebrate LTA’s 30th anniversary – a new artwork has been unveiled at Little India station. The 12.6-metre mural, created by veteran artist Yeo Siak Goon, captures the neighbourhood’s vibrant history and the evolution of Singapore’s transport system. Titled Tek Kah (the Hokkien name for Little India meaning “at the foot of the bamboos”), the work blends colonial-era scenes with modern day landmarks and lush bamboo in an abstract ode to the precinct. The piece – which reportedly took Yeo five months to complete – even features LTA’s Hampshire Road office, formerly Kandang Kerbau Hospital, as a subtle nod to the agency’s roots.
To make the experience more interactive, LTA has launched a digital guide through the Bloomberg Connects app, allowing commuters to explore Art in Transit works across the North East, Circle, Downtown and Thomson-East Coast lines. Passengers can scan QR codes displayed beside artworks to access curated tours, artist stories and fun behind-the-scenes details.
For the LTA, this project is about more than decoration – it’s about redefining how Singaporeans experience public space. MRT stations, once seen as purely functional, are becoming vibrant cultural touchpoints, where history, art and movement intersect.
On a mission to democratise art, the LTA is also working with the Singapore Art Museum, National Arts Council, Art Outreach, and the School of the Arts (SOTA) to continue weaving creativity into transit spaces. One collaboration set to launch in March 2026 is a guided walking trail, curated by SOTA students, showcasing artworks at selected MRT stations. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more – in the meantime, you can stay up-to-date over here.
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