These murals brighten up void decks of HDB blocks
The presence of street art has brought a new life into Singapore's concrete jungle – from the back alleys of Kampong Gelam to art on the walls of Little India. For those living in the heartlands, you don't have to travel far to find works of art. Our HDBs are peppered with murals in surprising places – all you have to do is observe. Here's the best street art you can find in the heartlands.
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You can find plenty of colourful murals and brightly painted flats around Hougang, but one is particularly famous. The rainbow-decked Blk 316 is the last remaining known HDB block with a rainbow splashed on its facade as Blk 609 at Bedok Reservoir Rd has recently been given a makeover.
Blk 316 Hougang Ave 7
The murals here serve a bigger purpose: they help persons with dementia navigate around the neighbourhood. An initiative by the Alzheimer’s Disease Association (ADA), the Wayfinding Project is a mural-painting project at HDB blocks in Kebun Bahru that features murals of familiar, retro items on strategic walls at the void decks to aid people living with dementia and the elderly in easily recognising their surroundings, and finding their way home.
Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4
On French Road in between HDB blocks in Jalan Besar, you'll find a mural featuring bullock carts and scenes from the now-defunct New World Amusement Park that used to be in Jalan Besar from the 20s to 60s. The mural was dreamt up by Social Creatives, a collective aiming to promote community art at HDB blocks around Singapore.
Block 805 French Road
At Skyville@Dawson, you'll find a series of murals that depict the changing times in the Dawson neighbourhood and Queenstown. The project – titled Heritage Walls – is a collaboration between mural artist Troy Chin and WOHA Architects. But instead of the usual mural, the artist casted relief into concrete instead.
86 Dawson Rd
Over at Jurong West, you might be surprised to find a 'Picasso' art gallery right in the heartlands. Called Void Deck Art Gallery @ Gek Poh Ville, it can be found at Blocks 749 and 750 Jurong West Street 73 and pays homage to Pablo Picasso and his famous Cubism style. Marvel at over 50 artworks in celebration of Singapore’s 50th anniversary – and snap photos for the 'gram while you're at it.
Blocks 749 and 750 Jurong West Street 73
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