Three Artworks You Need To Check Out in ‘Of Gardens & Dreams’

By Janani D/O Sivalingam

Among the 20-over artworks that are featured in Singapore’s first residential art gallery, we took a look at three unique ones.

GRAPHIC BY: Shophouse & Co

Sprinkled across various residential areas of Taman Jurong are visual art projects co-created by artists and residents, celebrating the legacy of the neighbourhood, its connectedness with nature, and its residents’ progressive and lively spirit.

Here's the 'Of Gardens & Dreams' Art Trail Map:

The strong stories of Taman Jurong’s ‘Kampong Spirit’ come in many forms in this art gallery, from paintings to 3D art installations. We visited three of these visual artworks that showed the unique side of the Taman Jurong Neighbourhood.

Legendary Portraits

Location: Block 337 Drop-Off Point, Tah Ching Road

This artwork was done by the senior citizens of the Thye Hua Kwan Senior Services of Taman Jurong in collaboration with Singaporean artist Terence Lin.

The artworks portray the idea of ageing in an ever-changing society in a positive light through the use of Linocut prints.

Take a closer look and you can see intricate carved lines and textures of their portrait designs revealing these seniors’ life journeys and their wisdom accumulated through the years.

Not only were senior citizens able to express themselves through their portraitures, but they were also given the opportunity to learn the various techniques and elements of Linocut printing.

Shoaling Through The Barriers

Location: Block 337D, Tah Ching Road

If cruising through framed artworks isn’t your thing, fret not, as the art trail also has 3D art installations that are just so captivating to look at.

This sculptural art installation is made up of 99 fishes created individually by youths and senior citizens of Taman Jurong, led by Singaporean artist Tay Swee Siong.

Inspired by the natural environment, greenery and variety of fish species surrounding the nearby Jurong Lake, each fish on the installation reflects the residents’ unique creative self.

The art installation captures the essence of the Taman Jurong residents’ spirits and symbolises them overcoming barriers while shoaling in unity.

Exquisitely Us, Me and You!

Location: Block 352, Kang Ching Road

The Taman Jurong Art Trail does have several 3D art installations, but nothing compares to this double-sided interactive artwork, where you can turn the panels to reveal various personalities of the residents in Taman Jurong.

This artwork was inspired by a method used in Arts called Exquisite Corpse, where drawings are passed on as concealed forms for contribution by surrealist artists.

Led yet again by artist Terence Lin and another artist, Chai Chee Seam, residents came together to work on this artwork together.

Closer observation of this art installation would unveil the inclusion of flora and fauna and the complementary colour schemes used by the residents that make this art installation all the more eye-catching.

Head down to Taman Jurong for their “Of Gardens & Dreams” art trail and check out these three artworks, and three new ones they’ve added as part of Singapore Art Week 2020!

For more information, visit https://www.shophouseandco.com/ofgardensanddreams.