The next time you find yourself at Mandarin Gallery, you may like to give the shopping a break and art a chance. The private Museum of Art & Design (M.A.D) located on the third floor of the mall is a must-visit for fans of contemporary art. Housing rare and usually inaccessible pieces, M.A.D’s objective is to create excitement and awareness among those who have little exposure to and experience with modern art. With an impressive line-up of exhibitions and events relating to fashion, art, design and life, the museum is meant for both art lovers and amateurs.

Passionate about what they do, you can count on the people behind M.A.D to bring you the latest happenings in the art scene. For instance, the museum will be presenting high profile Chinese contemporary artists, Zeng Fanzhi and Ai Weiwei, at the annual Art Stage which officially kicks off today at Marina Bay Sands.

For those who enjoy the childlike appeal of cartoonish pop art, Yoshitomo Nara is one artist that you should not miss. Having burst onto the scene during the Japanese Pop Art Movement in the 1990s, Nara is known for his intriguing children characters. At first glance, these children may seem simple and cute but a closer look will reveal that they may not be so innocent. Usually portrayed with expressions of irritation and annoyance (maybe even hate), they are often drawn with objects like weapons and cigarettes in hand. These bizarrely incongruent details in his art, in the form of sculptures, paintings and even street art, have won Nara a strong cult following among art critics and artsy hipsters alike.

Nara’s framed prints are available for sale at SGD450 each at M.A.D Museum of Art & Design, #03-01, Mandarin Gallery