The sixth edition of Art Encounters by Art Outreach sees an installation that tells the story of Kampong Gelam’s history. The installation by local artist duo Ripple Root spans two shipping containers and exhibits the artists’ interpretation of archival imagery from the Malay Heritage Centre.
Where Land Meets Sea boasts images of the area as a port in the 19th Century with vibrant paintings and 3D cut-outs showcasing the port, seafarers who made their livelihoods from the sea as well as Malay communities which settled on the banks of the Rochor River. Ripple Root’s bold, colourful artwork is layered over archival images, encouraging visitors to reconsider the past. The paintings spotlight the concept of tanah air (land-water) which translates to “homeland” in Malay.
Visitors can take pictures with life-sized cut-outs of a traditional boat and a Gelam tree and see the artists doing their signature style of “tag team” live painting inside the containers on 13-14 November.
Where Land Meets Sea will be located on the lawn of the Malay Heritage Centre from 6 November to 16 December 2021.
*Art Outreach, an education non-profit organisation that aims to promote art appreciation in Singapore, launched Art Encounters in 2020 in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board. The initiative comprises mobile exhibits in shipping containers that can travel around Singapore, allowing people to come into contact with art even as they go about their daily lives.
