At first glance, you might overlook this unexpected hideout as nothing more than a regular locksmith store at Golden Mile Tower. But what lies within is a collective store named Shrub – a haven for indie art prints, merchandise, and collectibles. Retaining much of the interior from its previous occupants, all kinds of creativity occupy the space, living up to its "Do-It-Yourself" approach that mirrors the spirit of its art zines and other merchandise. Doing away with retail conventions, Shrub invites people to freely explore, learn, and fully immerse themselves in the freedom of making and consuming art.
The old school signage bears the name of ‘Teo Locksmith’ in blue geometric print, sitting under red, rounded Chinese characters. But step in and you’ll find yourself surrounded by an eclectic collection of books, zines, prints, T-shirts, and more creative odds and ends.
This is Shrub, an independent store owned by Fern, who inherited the dusty space in Golden Mile Tower from their grandparents. This former locksmith store dates to the 70s and still retains its original façade, glass cabinets, shelves, backboards, and even stacks of unsold locks.
It’s got a new edge though, as a shop selling works by independent creators and as a space for pop-ups and parties. Fern says, “We don’t have a specific purpose for this space. I just want everyone’s works to uplift each other. This is for individual artists, including myself, who cannot make it on our their own because they don’t produce works at a commercial scale or speed.”
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Childhood in Golden Mile Tower
To those who ask Fern if they intentionally created the concept of a locksmith-turned-art-space, their answer is, “It’s actual grime and actual mess.” They recall growing up in the locksmith shop under the care of their grandparents and a time when Golden Mile Tower was hardly the cool hangout it is today (thanks in large part to indie cinema The Projector just upstairs).
As Fern attests, spending their childhood here with self-employed and workaholic parents was hard. Nevertheless, endless hours of doodling and tracing stencils while trying to stave off boredom at the shop soon blossomed into other artistic pursuits.
While studying at LASALLE, Fern began creating and selling prints and T-shirts under the moniker Ripe. This venture was free-wheeling and less curated, operating on an open-door concept where friends and other artists were free to platform their works.
I think that spaces are very, very, very precious and very much craved by Singaporeans now. Spaces to hang out, spaces to get engaged.
Journey to self-validation
The idea of turning starting a more permanent space had been brewing in Fern’s mind for a while. But it was the tragic death of a close friend that finally pushed them over the edge. “It was very hard for me to accept. Not death, but the fact that people work and work, but for what? It’s like, anything can change at any time. So, what are we waiting for?”
The process of turning the locksmith shop into Shrub was a journey. For one, it was hard physical work. “It looked quite different at the start. There was a big steel table and furniture from the locksmith store…I tried to clean and wipe, but in the end, I just gave up. It’s just dirty, you can’t make this place look clean, so I just accepted it,” Fern half jokes.
The transformation was also its own form of validation. “As I was setting out the place, I was like ‘damn, I’m owning it now’,” says Fern. “It felt good. Funnily enough, when people say it’s cool, I’m at the point where I don’t need the validation. I feel settled.”
A necessary space
Browse Shrub online and in store now and you’ll run by small independent names like Hause, Zayrerboy, Ppow, Painenthusiast, and Den Souvenir. It’s also been home ground for a slew of exciting pop-ups: Moods, a chitchat session for Mama Magnet’s ongoing research on community and wellness; Post Punk, an ‘immersive time capsule experience’ built around actual letters written between 1997-2004; and Throwaway Goods pop-up, a collection of sketches by ‘art school rejects’.
“I think that spaces are very, very, very precious and very much craved by Singaporeans now. Spaces to hang out, spaces to get engaged,” says Fern. And speaking on their hopes for Shrub, “I just want everyone’s words to uplift each other because this is mostly for individual artists, including myself, who can’t make it alone because we don’t produce works at a commercial scale or speed.”
And that’s your cue to visit Shrub, if only to support the local independent scene. Just keep this in mind: “People who come into the shop should know that they can be curious for the sake of being curious. They can slow down, look at stuff…be intentional and understand what they’re buying so when people say, ‘Hey, nice shirt,’ then you’ll have a story to tell.”
