Singapore is known for its clean urban environment. Little did people know that tucked between these high-rise buildings are streets filled with whimsical, colorful murals. Aside from the walls on Haji Lane, most are still relatively unknown among tourists and travelers.

On your next trip to Singapore, check out these 10 places where you’ll find amazing murals.

95 Club Street and Ann Siang Hill junction

Go to 95 Club Street and Ann Siang Hill junction and you’ll find the latest artwork by Singapore’s talented muralist Yip Yew Chong (better known as YC), whose art has brought life to Singaporean streets. The mural is about Netflix’s Orange is the New Black Season 5, which will be displayed for a month. Expect to enjoy peranakan vibe when looking at this mural.

Mural on 95 Club Street and Ann Siang Hill junction by Yip.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Amoy Street Food Center

The Amoy Street Food Center not only offers affordable food but also a view of great murals. On the first floor of the building, you’ll find ‘Samsui Lady’ by Muhammad Azlan Ramlan, who is better known as Ceno2, alongside other murals. Azlan has also created many graffiti artworks in Chicago and New York.

‘Samsui Lady’ by Muhammad.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Thian Hock Keng Temple at 158 Telok Ayer Street

Created by Yip Yew Chong (YC) in April, this 44-meter long mural decorates the Thian Hock Keng Temple located at 158 Telok Ayer Street. This heritage mural presents stories of Singapore from the past and present, including the migration of Hokkiens from Fujian and their hard work, the mass wedding culture, and the development of Lion City.

One of the murals on Thian Hock Keng Temple by Yip Yew Chong (YC).(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Another mural on Thian Hock Keng Temple by Yip Yew Chong (YC).(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Kreta Ayer Road

In this area, you’ll find 13 heritage murals depicting and celebrating the lives of Singapore’s pioneer generation of residents living at Kreta Ayer. The murals were jointly painted in 2015 by more than 500 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) volunteers over a period of 6 months. It took more than 1,000 man-hours to complete them.

One of the murals on Kreta Ayer Road.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Another mural on Kreta Ayer Road.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Also, don’t forget to see the beautiful mural painted in 1988 by Quek See Hoon. It was painted on the back wall of the Zhao Heqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic.

Mural painted in 1988 by Quek See Hoon on Kreta Ayer Road.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Chinatown Complex

You can’t miss huge Bruce Lee mural in this area, since it was painted in bright yellow. It was painted by Wong Si-Y, Chua Shuen-Zhi, Jolene Ong Shi Lin, Nor Khalif Bin Eddie Rahim and crew. You’ll also find a glimpse of Singlish in this mural, such as ‘Shiok’, a Singaporean word used to express happiness and pleasure and ‘Huat Ah’, which means to get rich and get lucky.

Bruce Lee mural by Wong Si-Y, Chua Shuen-Zhi, Jolene Ong Shi Lin, Nor Khalif Bin Eddie Rahim and crew.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Intersection of Joo Chiat Terrace and Everett Road

A mural-hunting trip to Singapore is not complete if you haven’t seen murals by well-known Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic. He has created several murals the city-state, one of which, The Style Wars, beautifies a wall at Everett Road since 2013. According to Zacharevic, the mural was initiated by local residents as a contribution to Singapore’s independent public art landscape.

'The Style Wars' by Ernest Zacharevic.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Victoria Street

If you just can’t get enough of Zacharevic’s art, continue your journey to Victoria Street, where you’ll find four more of his creations: Boy Peeping Out of Window, Boy Climbing, Children In Shopping Trolleys and Girl And The Lion Cub. You'll definitely recognize his distinctive style.

'Children In Shopping Trolleys' by Ernest Zacharevic.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

'Boy Peeping Out of Window' by Ernest Zacharevic.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

'Girl And The Lion Cub' by Ernest Zacharevic.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Aliwal Street

After enjoying the beautiful artworks by Zacharevic, head to Aliwal Street through Jalan Klapa. Go along the Aliwal Street until you get to the Aliwal Arts Centre. You’ll find contemporary-style murals on the back of the Aliwal Arts Centre. The murals are not permanent work, as they change almost every month. These are the artworks found per June 2017.

One of the murals found on Aliwal Street in June.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Another mural found on Aliwal Street in June.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Haji Lane

Haji Lane is famous for its amazing murals and street art; you can’t miss it. Besides the mural on Singapura Club by Muhammad Azlan Ramlan, you can also find a lot of wonderful murals, like the one from Juice Clinic (with its mannequin installation) and the artwork in front of Blu Jaz Cafe by Prettyfreakyfantasy, Naazsedili, Karlkerridgeart, and Beadedsoulasylum. 

Mannequin installation on Juice Clinic, Haji Lane, by Idris alias Prettyfreakyfantasy. He worked with Naazsedilix Karlkerridgeart and Beadedsoulasylum.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

A mural by Muhammad. (JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Little India

The last one, of course, Little India. Little India is full of culture and very colorful. From Haji Lane, walk through Arab Street and head to Clive Street. You’ll find a huge mural of a girl with a red camo head scarf. The mural entitled I Am Still Here is by Safaruddin Bin Abdul Hamid, who is known as Dyn.

'I Am Still Here' by Safaruddin.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Continue your journey to 8 Belilios Lane, where you will find a huge mural Traditional Trades of Little India, painted by local artist Psyfool. This mural takes you back to colonial Singapore in the 1800s: Little India was home to many Indian immigrants who settled there and brought their trades with them, trades such as garland making, kacang puteh peddling and parrot astrology. Though some of these trades are no longer common in Singapore’s contemporary society, they resonate deeply with the heritage of Little India.

'Traditional Trades of Little India' by Psyfool.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

Finish your journey at Kerbau Road, where you’ll find such a colorful mural, Cattleland 2, by Eunice Lim. The mural shows colorful cows with patterns and floral motifs. The artist wants to emphasize cattle as the driving force of Little India’s economy from the beginning. (dev/kes)

'Cattleland 2' by Eunice Lim.(JP/Yohannie Linggasari)

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A storyteller at heart, Yohannie Linggasari was previously a Jakarta-based journalist who is currently based in Singapore. She loves to write short horror stories and opinion piece on gender issue. Feel free to say hello to her via yohannie.linggasari@gmail.com

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