Of Gardens & Dreams
Singapore’s first residential public art gallery. Curated by Shophouse & Co
Of Gardens & Dreams celebrates the legacy of Taman Jurong, its connectedness to nature, and its residents’ progressive and lively spirit. As the first residential public art gallery in Singapore, it features artworks from Our Gallery at Taman Jurong, alongside other artworks that commemorate the heritage of the local hawker cultures, the nation’s 50 years of independence and street art pieces from National Art Council’s Noise Singapore initiative, Noise Urban Arts in the Hood.
As part of Singapore Art Week 2020, three newly commissioned artworks, co-created by artists and residents, will be featured as part of a specially curated trail on 11 January. These artworks explores the question: “What is a life worth living in a place Of Gardens & Dreams?” through the dimension of mental health, digital wellness and environmental sustainability. Participants will also get to hear about the unique process of co-creating art for public spaces, from the curators and artists.
2018/2019 Artworks
Five new artworks for Our Gallery at Taman Jurong were commissioned in 2018 and 2019 under the Of Gardens and Dreams curatorial direction, bringing up the total collection of public art to 23 pieces around the neighbourhood. All the artworks were co-created with the local community and bears the resident’s unique interpretations and contribution to the area.
a leaf a day - Haikel yusuff
A Leaf a Day is an augmented reality artwork showcasing painted leaves co-created with Taman Jurong residents and the artist. The design process of creating each leaf begins by observing and documenting micro to macro patterns of the natural and man-made landscapes at Jurong Lake Gardens, and then painting the patterns of the collected specimens. Each piece went through a digital scan to obtain their shape and colour. Formulated to look like a networked system, the digital artwork brings participants on a journey of discovery of intricate details in their neighbourhood.
Tactile expression - chan shu yin
Tactile Expressions are two wooden benches co-created by Taman Jurong residents and the artist through pyrography. Each artwork reflects elements of nature art, and is created by residents during co-creation workshops. Elements of art therapy were incorporated into the entire creative process, guiding residents to engage in a reflexive narrative – where they drew symbolic connections to their lives, memories and hopes for the future. The benches also serve as a place and a medium for all to rest, communicate and enjoy each other’s company to nurture mental wellness.
whale you refill - ernest goh
Whale You Refill is a public artwork co-created by the artist, children and youths of Taman Jurong. The whale, made from post-consumer plastic bottles, symbolises a collective effort to raise public consciousness about our relationship with recycling, plastic pollution and plastic waste. It also serves as a community drinking fountain to encourage reuse of plastic bottles. Through the co-creation workshops, participants learnt to distinguish shapes and details of marine animals to create a mural of fishes. They also experienced a simplified industrial recycling process and colour match to create their own plastic barnacles that form the final artwork. Plastic waste was collected from Taman Jurong community as well as SembCorp’s Materials Recovery Facility.
GOING SOMEWHERE! - IVAN DAVID NG
Going somewhere! is a dusty-red sculpture encrusted with terracotta ceramic pieces created alongside Taman Jurong residents. Each ceramic piece bears images derived from memories the residents have of living in their neighbourhood. The sculpture is shaped like a children’s drawing of a bird, symbolising the community taking flight with their dreams and recollections. It also serves as a pedagogical tool for art teachers in kindergartens and primary schools in the area. As these young students engage in the lessons, they partake in generating new narratives of their neighbourhood and the future of the Jurong Lake District.
marked stones - juliana ong
Marked Stones is a floor mural artwork featuring stone-shaped outlined patterns and markings that have been co-created by Taman Jurong residents and artist, Juls. Strategically located at the staircase landing of Block 330 opposite one of the key entrances to Jurong Lake Gardens, it also serves as an anchor point to welcome residents and visitors into Taman Jurong and a visual representation of the residents’ vibrant spirit and their stories. Each organic form symbolises each resident’s story and the vibrant spirit of the neighbourhood’s art. The spontaneous line and stroke markings surrounding these forms are what Juls described as “Automarktic”.
the OTHER ARTWORKS
Go on a self-guided trail!
Explore the collection of public art in Taman Jurong with the brochure that we have created! There are 2 trails featured in the brochure - North and South Trail - and both will bring you to see this charming neighbourhood in a completely new light. Pick up a printed copy of the brochure at Taman Jurong Community Club or download it here.
About the collection
Our Gallery at Taman Jurong is Singapore’s first residential art gallery which aims to engage Taman Jurong residents in visual art projects that are facilitated by established artists, promoting exchanges and fostering appreciation for the visual arts. This has resulted in co-created artworks, installed at HDB void decks and spaces across the Taman Jurong neighbourhood.
The collection is curated by placemaking studio, Shophouse & Co.
The National Arts Council’s island-wide network of Arts and Culture Nodes is developed for people to come together to participate in, enjoy, and experience the value of the arts in their neighbourhood. This Arts and Culture Node is in partnership with People’s Association, Taman Jurong Citizens’ Consultative Committee and Taman Jurong Community Arts and Culture Club.
About Taman Jurong
Originally a site covered with plantations, Taman Jurong transformed into Singapore’s first industrial estate over the years. With Jurong Lake Gardens just next door, gardens and nature has always been a key identity of the neighbourhood — “Taman” is also Malay for “Garden”. In addition, the street names reflect the community’s love for nature and aspirations for a greater future: Yung Ping Road translates to “eternal peace”, Yung Kuang Road to “eternal bright” and Yuan Ching Road to “scenery of gardens”.
The curatorial direction
Of Gardens and Dreams celebrates the legacy of Taman Jurong, its connectedness with nature, and its residents’ progressive and lively spirit. It has always been a place where dreams are made of, with the pioneer generation dreaming about a better future as they first moved to Taman Jurong. This vibrant energy is translated into a series public art in the neighbourhood which have been co-created with local artists and the community, leaving behind past narratives and a look into the future that has yet to be set.
