Located at the base of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore has long attracted enterprising traders, daring travelers and pirates. Neighboring the Malay world and historically part of it, the modern city is closely connected to China. The Straits of Singapore are clearly visible from the island’s east coast. Hundreds of cargo ships waiting to unload at the port are strung across the thin thread of the horizon as far as the eye can see; in the velvet night waves they become a necklace of colorful lights, large and small.
At the dawn of its history, the city was an important center for Malay trade and developed as a regional port linking India and China with Southeast Asia. Modern Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, a historian, collector and agent for the British East India Company. Known today as the “shining showcase of Asia,” Singapore survived not only the long colonial period, but also the Japanese occupation of 1942-1945, albeit under a different name, Shonanto.
Many modern Singaporeans remember the pivotal date of August 6, 1965, when the small city on the island became a sovereign state. It faced radically new challenges that defined the direction of its development. After 1997, when its regional rival, the glittering Hong Kong, was returned to China, Singapore found itself among strong and aggressive competitors as the only independent city-state in the rapidly developing Southeast Asia.
How much the image of a city created by cinema can mean! Sometimes, even when we get there, we can remain captive of the impression created by the mere movement of shadows on the surface of the screen for a long time.
Graffiti Hunting
In Singapore is gaining popularity “graffiti hunting” – walks in order to find and photograph the street drawings. The fact is that wall paintings-regardless of their artistic qualities-are officially banned in the city. However, some works are so well done that the authorities do not paint over them, even though they are aware of their existence. There are also places that officials have not yet learned about – they are of particular value to hunters. In this part we gave up everything we knew without hiding anything:
Chandler Road
In Little India on Chandler Road, a long branch of jasmine twists around one of the buildings. Next to it sits a worker wearing a helmet (also painted). This touching graffiti is a tribute to the realities of migrant life: a man torn away from home and everything he holds dear, trying to grow his favorite tree in a foreign land.
Belize Lane
The wall on Belis Lane depicts life in Little India several decades ago. For example, you can see a male laundress and an astrologer telling fortunes with the help of a parrot. Several more graffiti can be found on Clive Street, Kerbau Road and Hindu Road.
Jalan Pisang
In the Arab quarter on Jalan Pisang Street, you can see graffiti with a girl and a lion cub on the wall of a house. It’s already famous far beyond Singapore’s borders. Around the corner, on Victoria Street, is “Kids in Trolleys” with 3D elements – much to the liking of selfies. More street art on the block can be found on Aliwal Street, Sultan Arts Village, Sultan Gate and Haji Lane.
Chinatown
In Chinatown, graffiti 40 meters long adorns the Chinese Temple on Amoy Street. It tells of the arrival and various experiences of the first Chinese immigrants.
Bras Basah
In the arts district of Bras Basah. The graffiti of the Bugis is more like what we usually imagine it to be. The walls on Armenian Street are noteworthy. On Queen Street, the wall facing the Oxford Hotel has amusing paintings in the style of Malaysian Georgetown artists. Waterloo Street has a rather nice wall painted by Chinese and Thai graffiti artists, and Bain Street has “50 Bridges” graffiti.
You can also look for not-so-famous graffiti in the Tiong Baru area and Everton Park.
If you’re in Singapore, get out on the streets to see some of the most interesting artwork in Singapore. Local artists have left their mark on the streets of Singapore in the form of large living sculptures or stenographic murals throughout Singapore. Check out itineraries curated by the Foundation for Public Art that tell a little about the history of some works and artists, or just wander the streets and see what surprises emerge.
