Street Art at Chinatown Singapore

You can find this street art mural titled Letter Writer by Yip Yew Chong at Chinatown, 336 Smith Street.

From here https://yipyc.com/blog/2019/04/26/letter-writer-寫信佬-妙手揮春/

Letter Writer 寫信佬 . 妙手揮春

Painting this mural in Chinatown was a dream come true. This mural is special for three reasons: Firstly, Chinatown is where I grew up and have fond memories of. Secondly, for 2 years, I pursued the opportunity to paint murals in Chinatown, experiencing many hurdles, but also learnt many lessons and made many friends along the way. Finally, this is the first mural I painted with my two children!

In the olden days, Letter writers played an important role of helping our migrant forefathers write letters to their loved ones back in China. They also doubled as calligraphers for Chinese New Year couplets and ancestral altars. This was a common scene in Chinatown up till the 80s before the big Chinatown cleanup when the street markets, hawkers and traditional traders were resettled inside the mammoth Chinatown Complex (completed in 1983). I missed those scenes!

Actually, painting the Letter Writer is part of a bigger dream to paint 6 murals in Chinatown – Letter Writer, Wooden Clog Maker, Cantonese Opera Stage, Chinatown Wet Market, Paper Mask and Puppet Seller, Lantern Festival. I am so happy to have fulfilled part of my dream. Thanks to everyone who helped me get the approval. I hope to fulfil the rest someday! Thank you!

The mural is located at Singapore Chinatown, 336 Smith Street, on the side wall of New Bridge Centre, just outside the CK department store.

Street art by Yip Yew Chong

 

 

Thian Hock Keng Temple

My buddy and I saw this beautiful temple in Chinatown this Tuesday. It was closed on that day and we could not explore this oldest Hokkien temple.

From Wikipedia

Thian Hock Keng^[1] (Chinese: 天福宮; pinyin: Tiānfú Gōng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Thian-hok-kiong or the Tianfu Temple, literally "Palace of Heavenly Happiness"),^[2] is a temple built for the worship of Mazu, a Chinese sea goddess, located in Singapore. It is the oldest and most important temple of the Hokkien (Hoklo) people in the country. Another shrine at the back is Buddhist dedicated to Guanyin, the Mahayana Buddhistbodhisattva of mercy.

Thian Hock Keng was gazetted as a national monument on 6 July 1973.

Thian Hock Keng temple is located at Telok Ayer Street

Quaint Ann Siang Hill in Singapore Chinatown

After hiking at the Southern Ridges, my buddy and I continued to explore Chinatown. We don't go to Chinatown frequently thus we were kinda 'lost' in the street. However in the process of walking to another MRT downtown, we saw the quaint beautiful Ann Siang Hill.

 

We saw many beautiful traditional shophouses which are mostly home to multitude of pubs and restaurants in the quiet enclave but more boisterous in the evening. 

There are also many beautiful street art at Ann Siang Hill where it used to be the Cantonese Chinese burial grounds. The old colourful shophouses used to be home to several Chinese clans and associations. To find out more, click this brochure prepared by the National Parks here .

To explore other DIY Walk in Singapore, visit the National Parks website here.

Street artl of Chinese zodiacs. I'm born in the year of rooster. Sometimes I can be very blunt and sarcastic. 

I wonder why the rooster is behind the year of pig. It should be the year of dog.

At about 5pm plus, many cars arrived to the pubs for a night of party. 

I love this shop house design and colour combination. Feel like I'm in the 40s era.

History of Ann Siang Hill.

I like this beautiful spiral staircase which is made of sturdy wood.

Lovely bright yellow flowers.

You can download the brochure from the National Parks here.

Street Arts in Singapore Chinatown

After hiking at Mount Faber yesterday, my buddy and I planned to visit the Buddha's Tooth Museum at Chinatown. Alas it was closed so we decided to explore Chinatown. We were 'lost' in the street but saw many beautiful street arts scattered in Chinatown street, once an enclave for Chinese migrants. We were delighted to explore the beautiful Chinatown which is really vibrant at night as people gather at the myriads pubs in the colourful and traditional shophouses. Maybe we be back again to also look at the mural near the new Shake Shack restaurant in Chinatown. 

This street art is located in Ann Siang Street.

You can find this street art near the Buddha's Tooth museum in Chinatown.

In dedication to my young cousin born in the year of Pig.

Interesting light art outside a fusion restaurant at Ann Siang Street.

Street Art behind Thian Hock Keng temple. This mural depicts the grand procession to welcome the Deity.