What Value Does Art Add to Singapore's Landscape

Culture and Heritage Appreciation

Art is a powerful vessel that has the ability to evoke strong positive emotional states, such as empathy and feelings of belonging (Ralls, n.d.). In multicultural Singapore, art that portrays the history of different ethnicities, in preservation of our people’s stories, can facilitate conversations about our traditions and way of life, allowing for a greater appreciation for our heritages and culture. Art not only serves as a form of entertainment, but also provides an outlet for education, forging of community identity, and expanding of social networks (City of Good, 2021).

Recently, have you heard some chimes whilst taking the train? Those chimes are not only intended for the visually impaired, but also to strengthen Singapore’s multicultural identity; they are composed from Chan Mali Chan, a Malay folk song, Singai Naadu, a Tamil-Singaporean patriotic anthem, and San Lun Che, a Chinese children’s song (Mujibah, 2023). 

Effective Placemaking

Placemaking is characterised by the planning, designing, and management of a city’s architecture (Urban Redevelopment Authority, Wikipedia, n.d.); good placemaking is when optimal physical design combines history and identity, with the aim of bringing people together to celebrate our differences and collective values (Civil Service College, n.d.). 

Did you know that the royal residence at Kampong Glam where Singapore’s former Malay Sultans lived, is now converted to the Malay Heritage Centre? Not to mention, the vibrant art murals that proliferate the area capture the artists’ childhood experiences and interests they are passionate about (see Visit Kampong Gelam, n.d.), which may evoke a sense of nostalgia amongst its viewers, or to capture their attention and pique their curiosity. 

Written by: Adalee Loh

03/2024

References

City of Good. (2021, August 10). Why arts and heritage matter in Singapore. https://cityofgood.sg/articles/arts-and-heritage-in-singapore/ 

Mujibah, F. (2023, November 11). SMRT rolls out new chimes on trains in 3-month pilot. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ new-tunes-on-trains-smrt-rolls-out-new-initiative-to-be-more-inclusive-towards-visually-impaired 

Ralls, E. (n.d.). Visual art evokes many feelings and emotions. Earth.com. https://www.earth.com/news/visual-art-evokes-many-feelings-and-emotions/ 

Urban Redevelopment Authority. (n.d.). Placemaking and partnership. https://www.ura.gov.sg/Corporate/Get-Involved/Shape-A-Distinctive-City/Placemaking-and-Partnership 

Visit Kampong Gelam. (n.d.). Wall murals. https://visitkamponggelam.com.sg/attraction/wall-murals/ 

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Placemaking. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Placemaking#:~:text=Placemaking%20is%20a%20multi%2Dfaceted,happiness%2C%20and%20well%2Dbeing