Singapore Street Art

Exciting. Evolving. Eclectic.

Singapore is a global city that is constantly evolving. The Singapore which our kids will grow up in will be vastly different from that which we grew up in. Though we still hold on to traditional values and customs, the way each generation expresses themselves differs. One very obvious evidence of our ‘evolvement’ is the local art scene. Specifically, Singapore’s street art.

We are no strangers to Singapore’s prominent street art, having met one of the artists, Mr. Yip Yew Chong and seen some of his fine works depicting Singapore past. These were documented in our blog posts here:

Nothing like the real thing:

Recently during the holidays, we brought the kids to the Haji Lane precinct to see some of the eclectic street art which we have heard so much about. While we’ve seen photos of the murals on social media, nothing beats seeing the ‘real thing’. The Haji Lane street art is avant-garde yet colourful; some are larger than life and certainly do not lose out to those we saw in Penang. One thing for sure, we could not resist using these backdrops for photographing the kids to update family members for the New Year dressed in their CNY best.

Tips:

If these photos jump out and shout out to you, here are some tips we’d like to share on how you and your family can see these street art for yourselves and take some instagrammable shots!

1. Where are they?

The street art featured here are centred around eateries like Blu Jaz / Piedra Negra and Club Singapura along Haji Lane.

Drive along Beach Road and enter Arab Street, park anywhere near the junction of Beach Road and these street art would be within walking distance. We parked near a small, delightful Gelato joint named ‘aRoma‘ where we treated the kids to some Gelato after a morning of mural hunting. We also took a lunch break at this old-school Blanco Court Coffee Shop at the start of Beach Road which serves a mean Hokkien Prawn Noodle Soup.

2. Best time to go?

Go during the day to fully appreciate these street art. We recommend mornings, before 10am, as it will be less crowded since the shops and eateries along Haji Lane come alive only from 12pm onwards. The crowd starts to build up after that and it’s hard not to get photo-bombers in your frame.

Precautions:

You will be outdoors, so be prepared for the blazing sun or sudden downpour, both typical of Singapore’s hot and wet climate. There is a bit of walking involved, so wear comfortable shoes and stay hydrated. Bring a hat, cap and brolly along. If you have very young babies, try to use a baby carrier instead of a stroller as the lane-ways are rather narrow.

3. How to get the best shots?

Be patient: Expect tourists and other local families there wanting a shot of the eclectic street-art too.
Take turns: Show graciousness and wait a few minutes for others to complete their photo-taking.
Be creative: Walk around to find the best angle for your shots.
Take your time: Haji Lane has a mix of quirky boutiques and cafes housed in old-world charm shophouses. Devote at least 2-3 hrs to this walking trail. You can also venture into Kampong Glam just nearby for more cultural immersion!