In a short span of just 54 years, Singapore has transformed from a humble British colony to a mega-metropolis boasting one of the best airports in the world, sky-high GDPs, lowest unemployment rates, and first-world transport infrastructure. It’s easy to forget how Singapore became the state she is today, but we’re grateful to have local artists depict the humble beginnings that Singapore is founded on. Right in the heart of Keong Saik lives a handful of colourful wall murals that speaks a thousand words about Singapore’s humble beginnings.

1.Ripple Root

The famous Ripple Root Wall Mural is nearly synonymous with Keong Saik Road, and was tastefully done by local creative duo Liquan Liew and Estella Ng for collaborative workspace The Working Capitol in 2016. A little alleyway along Keong Saik Road will connect you to the mural where both walls on either side are lined with exuberant abstract shapes and colours that are born from signature nature-inspired brushstrokes.

2.Three Generations of Lanturns

By now, Yip Yew Chong should be a household name to anyone who is keen in the Singaporean arts scene – the Singaporean Mural artist completed this painting in September 2018, as part of his contribution to liven up Chinatown area. Taking advantage of the mid-autumn festival that month, he depicted this wall mural as a tribute to laidback family togetherness, and is completed with the inclusion of children who stand in front of the wall to pose for the camera. Neat!

3.Amah

Amah is one of the first wall murals of old Singapore illustrated by Yip Yew Chong, and depicts the old way of life in the sunny island back in the 1950s. The rawness of Singaporean culture can be felt just by perusing this mural, as the confines of shophouses around give the mural a timeless existence. What’s amazing is that the paint still looks fresh on the wall – a feat considering how it has weathered Singapore’s climate for close to half a decade now!

4.Slinky Wall Mural

If you don’t know about Slinky, it probably means that didn’t have a slinggin’ good childhood. For old times’ sake, an unknown artist decided to make a mural out of it, triggering feelings of nostalgia. The mural, simple but a magnet for eyeballs, spreads across a white façade on Neil Road which leads you to the garden-inspired café Botanist. It’s been known that the wall makes for some pretty cool post-brunch #OOTDs – with a takeaway kopi in hand, of course.

5.The Letter Writer

Letter writing – albeit slow, outdated and laborious, is the best way to convey your heartfelt feelings and thoughts. There’s a reason why love letters are still handwritten to this very day and age of digital apps – digital text is and will forever be cold and unfeeling. Perhaps that’s one of the many inspirations behind Yip Yew Chong’s creation of The Letter Writer. Letter writing was also a common scene in Chinatown up until the 1980s!