Nothing screams 'weird, wacky and wonderful' quite like Haw Par Villa. Built in 1937 as Tiger Balm Gardens, the little park of horrors along Pasir Panjang Road is a sight to be seen, especially when you're looking to quench your thirst for the offbeat in Singapore. It's peppered with colourful, gaudy Chinese folklore-themed statues but the main star of the show is the Ten Courts of Hell, a dim-lit cave of gruesome tortures.
While its gates remain closed due to the ongoing crisis, you can still catch a glimpse of Haw Par Villa in the local documentary, The Last Artisan. It follows master craftsman Teo Veoh Seng who first started out as an apprentice at the park decades ago, and now at 83, he has finally decided to hang up his paintbrushes. Combining interviews with animation, the documentary spotlights the artisan whose quiet dedication has preserved a uniquely charming slice of an ever-changing city.
What will then happen to the park once Teo Veoh Seng retires? There's only one way to find out: watching The Last Artisan. The documentary is available via The Projector's online platform from now until further notice at US$9.99 for a 24-hour period.
On June 7 at 5pm, join director Craig McTurk and Teo Veoh Seng's daughter Adeline Teo for a live Q&A session on The Projector's Facebook page. Post your burning questions in the comment section of the Q&A video or send them to The Projector's inboxes via Facebook, Instagram or email (info@theprojector.sg) before or during the sesh.
