A vulgar, chili-red, rocket welcomes you as you enter the carpark. A 13-metre high snowman peeks at you from the Sky Park on the third storey. This one is stretched lean, unlike the plump and jolly versions on Christmas cards. Against a backdrop of cranes, a giant bouquet of flowers explodes from a disproportionately small tree trunk.

Some bizarre fantasy land, perhaps? No, all this is part of VivoCity, the largest retail and lifestyle mall in Singapore to date. Designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, VivoCity boasts over 300 retail tenants, a 300-metre long waterfront and an international art collection specially commissioned in conjunction with the Singapore Biennale 2006.

The GoGo (the red rocket), Snowman and Flower Tree are part of this art collection, put together to (reading from VivoCity art pamphlet) “surprise and excite visitors” and “complement the iconic flow of VivoCity’s architecture”.

Walking around armed with a camera and a healthy dose of skepticism, I sought out the art in VivoCity to see if it indeed “surprised” and “excited” me. Along the way, I tried my best to absorb the “iconic flow” of the massive structure. I put a few of the art works in the collection, and some other architectural features and artistic endeavours, to my self-devised Public Art Test – PAT for short.

The PAT results in a 5-point rating system based on (1) relevance to surroundings, (2) contribution to the general aesthetics of the space and (3) interactivity. The higher the rating (that is, the bigger the PAT), the more successful the work is in my eyes.

Doling out PATs got me questioning some of the choices made. For instance, do Snowman and Snowflakes have a place on a tropical island, at a site associated with cruise ships, Sentosa and the Fall of Singapore during World War II? They both supposedly “symbolise a combination of elegant equilibrium and triumph over nature”. They “bask in the sun, defying their incongruous environment”. Very clever copywriting. Nevertheless, I can imagine that they will take centre stage every year round about Christmas!

Visual 1: Green Shopping Guide Man PAT rating: 4/5

He entertained the crowd with choreographed “directions” and by dishing out retail location advice on the spot and posing for photographs. If only our traffic policemen could be as amusing.

Visual 2: Yellow Information-on-Wheels Man PAT rating: 3.5/5

Highly visible (like traffic cones), these Yellow Men gave directions to shops and, yes, posed for photographs. Not as entertaining as the Shopping Guide Man though.

Visual 3: Play Court PAT rating: 3.5/5

These bright blue tubes can keep kids busy for exactly 2.5 minutes. A clever update on the simple wooden barrel.

Visual 4: On the Boardwalk PAT rating: 4/5

These boardwalks can be found along the whole stretch of the Promenade. Reflecting the undulating sea and reminiscent of holidays on cruise ships. They also serve as convenient, external access to the different levels.

Visual 5: On the Boardwalk (Part II) - Love Boat

Conducive to some cuddling too! Rates higher than Aphrodite’s Roses (see below).

Visual 6: There PAT rating: 3/5

An eye-catching kinetic sculpture by Henk Visch, of the Netherlands. But people don’t seem to get that they are supposed to (according to the description of the work) “step into the ankle-deep pool to cheer him (the gymnast) on or take a photograph with him”. By the way, the “gymnast” swings around the bar when conditions are right, but mostly stays still. Not sure what gymnastics has got to do with the space. Ho-hum.

Visual 7: Aphrodite’s Roses PAT rating: 2.5/5

A very pretty design on what looks from far like any old plastic seat. You wouldn’t stare too hard at the roses if you were just dying to rest your legs. According to the Artist’s Note, in Greek mythology the rose was created by the gods to celebrate the rise of Aphrodite from the sea. The roses here are to “evoke an air or romance and passion”. Sorry, but the reference to Aphrodite was lost on me and I didn’t feel particularly romantic on the seat.

Visual 8: Aphrodite’s Roses (Part II) – Rejection

Still, some may find some solace from heartbreak among the roses…

Visual 9: Flower Tree No. of PATs: 3/5

This piece of art is supposed to encourage people to “stop, amidst the hustle and bustle of their lives, and smell the flowers”. I thought it looked forlorn against the backdrop of cranes and construction. Human traffic at this part of the waterfront is pretty low, so not much “hustle and bustle”.

Visual 10: Flower Tree (Part II) – All things Bright and Beautiful

…But upon closer examination, I did feel a slight uplifting of the spirits.