Tanjong Katong, Joo Chiat, East Coast Road Street Art : Guide and Locations of Street Art in Katong (2023 Updated) - TheWackyDuo.com - Singapore Lifestyle Portal

Tanjong Katong, Joo Chiat, East Coast Road Street Art : Guide and Locations of Street Art in Katong (2023 Updated)




Katong is famous for its Peranakan Culture and foodie paradise.

Here, you would find old shophouses lining the streets of East Coast Road and Joo Chiat with a spew of condominiums and the landed properties framing them. A walk around the neighbourhood is both idyllic and therapeutic as it is a neighbourhood that keeps its old-school charm alongside modern amenities.

To add a little colour to your walk, look for street art or murals painted on shophouses, landed properties and back alleys. The Street Art scene is peppered all over Singapore, with a good selection at Katong. While it may not be as prominent as the street art of Georgetown, Penang, it does hold its own. The street arts Katong are commissioned mainly by Katong Joo Chiat Art Circuit and some independent works. There is even a giant mural by the famed Ernest Zaharevic, synonymous with Penang's street art, in Katong.


There are 3 main areas to explore in Katong for Street Art. We stroll the streets of Joo Chiat, Tanjong Katong and East Coast Road to provide a complete guide to street art in Katong.

JOO CHIAT ROAD


1 anatomical Reverberation; Recollections of you from a distance
Artist: Sop ) (2023)

Location: Wall of Shophouse on the side of Raffles Medical
471 Joo Chiat Rd Singapore 427680
Anatomical Reverberation, Recollection of you from a Distance


Sop O of Wayward Clouds created this vivid mural on the shophouse near the junction of East Coast Road and Joo Chiat Road. It is an ambitious painting that combines familiar forms and patterns that overlay each other. Some may see a horse, while others see mountains or flowers. You may be correct, given its intended purposes encapsulate the different experiences.


2 A History of Healing 
Artist: Tell Your Children (2019)

Location: ScanTeak Building Wall facing carpark
341 Joo Chiat Rd Singapore 427593

A History of Healing


Head down the road towards East Coast Road and see a Scanteak building. Go to the carpark next to it, and you will be greeted by a giant mural that spans the whole building. 

The artwork is named A History of Healing. It is linked to what this building used to house. In the past, this was a very distinct red building that housed the Joo Chiat Maternal and Child Health Clinic, established in 1907. It was initially set up to deal with the high mortality rate in Singapore during that period. After the wall, the clinic shifted to cater to the nation's general public affected by the Japanese Occupation.


3 Jalan Jalan
Artist: Didier 'Jabu ' Mathieu (2022)
Location: Aston Specialities @ Joo Chiat Road
359 Joo Chiat Road S 427604

Cats Joo Chiat

Directly opposite 'A History of Healing' is a group of Cats mural known as Jalan Jalan.Jalan Jalan celebrated Katong heritage through colours inspired by Peranakan ceramics, with brightly coloured cats proudly wandering in this estate.


Jalan Jalan Aston Specialities


One could have easily mistaken it for CATS, the musical commercial, as the cats were painted in technicolour. If you look around Joo Chiat estate, it would be easy to spot a cat or two roaming the streets. Having a dedicated mural is apt in this location.




4 Ghost of Rumah Katong 
Artist Ink & Clog (2021)
Location: Braseiro Resturant Wall
333 Joo Chiat Road S 427604

Ghost of Rumah Katong



Initially, we thought the Ferryman (name on the mural) was a new pub or restaurant. 

This relatively new mural is part of The Ferryman: Legends of Nanyang wall murals commissioned by STB Precinct Tour. You can book the tour - the ghost of Rumah Katong- and find out this mural's origins here.


5 The Phoenix
Boon 'Baked' (2022)
Location: 321 A Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427572



The Phoenix is located on a minor road off Joo Chiat Road. It pays homage to the Phoenix, often used as an auspicious motif by the Peranakans. It represents the continuance of life in the flames of change.

6 Lily Yoga  
Artist - Unknown
Location: 406A Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427634

Lily Yoga

This unidentified mural is not tagged. Located beside Capoeira & Yoga Academy,  it is most likely to be commissioned by them as they share a similar mural in their studios.

We are still determining who the lady is. It could even be the owner of the studio. If anyone has any clue, do share!


7 Unknown
Artist:  Zul Othman -ZERO (2023)?
Location: 290A Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427542

This is another new mural for 2023. There are no artists or painting descriptions, but it is tagged with a zero mark. It looks like a rice bowl filled with familiar items you can find in Joo Chiat, such as Sin Hoe Tien signboard and a Peranakan vase.


8 Kway Guan Huat  Joo Chiat Popiah 
Artist: Jaxton Su (2019)
Location: 95 Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427389

Kway Guan Huat Popiah

Start your Street Art journey at Kway Guan Huat Popiah. This stall has been around since 1938, making Popiah and Kueh Pie Tee.  

There are 2 murals by Jaxton Su on the right and left sides of the shop.


Kway Guan Huat


The left showed an elderly and a child making popiah the traditional way with another child at the side, while the right showed a street hawker of yesteryears.

Kway Guan Huat


9  Jousting Painters 
Artist Ernest Zacharevic (2013)
Location: 85 Joo Chiat Terrace S427247
Junction of Everitt Road and Joo Chiat Terrace, opposite Joo Chiat Terrace Park
Style Wars

This was done in 2013 by the well-known international street artist Ernest Zacharevic. He is famous for his works in street art in Penang, Malaysia, which is now very much a part of the city's heritage. 

Style Wars

This work was initiated by local residents. Interestingly, when he painted this, he got a ticket for inconsiderate boom-lift parking. The artwork depicts 2 children on imaginary horses having a duel with a paint roller and mop. Very cool.

10 High Tide 
Artist : Helen Le Chatelier & Christine Chia (2019)
Location: 1 Koon Seng Road, alley next to the colourful Peranakan Houses

High Tide Koon Seng Road

Next, head to the famous colourful Peranakan houses along Koon Seng Road. 

Tucked away in an alley is a wall of art by Helen Le Chatelier with poems by Christine Chia.

High Tide
.
The artwork was named High Tide to reflect the flooding that once plagued this area.
High Tide



As a bonus, you can take Instagram-worthy photos of colourful Peranakan houses.






11 Kampung Singapore
Artist: Unknown
Location: ABC Nasi Kandar 44 Changi Road S427604

Kampung Singapore

Tucked in an alley leading to Joo Chiat Complex, this wall mural depicts life in the old Kampung. We could not find any tag to identify the artist.

Kampung Mural


12 Home Grown
Artist: Ink & Clog (202)
Location: 1 Joo Chiat Rd, S 420001
Joo Chiat Complex, next to Joo Chiat Foodcourt

Home Grown
This is supposed to be inside a shophouse. The telltale sign would be the window to the right of the painting. It's located next to Joo Chiat Food Court.



EAST COAST ROAD

13 Rumah Bebe Dancing Peranakan Ladies
Artist : Unknown
Location: 113 East Coast Road

Behind Rumah Bebe, access through a side road next to AlibabaR Hawker Bar or alley along East Coast Road next to Kim Choo Kueh Chang.

Rumah Bebe



The next destination is along East Coast Road. Before you reach, turn into the small road next to AlibabaR Hawker Bar, where you will find a handful of Street Art behind the row of shophouses.

Rumah Bebe


The first that caught our eye was a mural featuring dancing Peranakans. Unfortunately, there is no description of who the artist is, but it is an interesting art paying homage to its roots.

14 Dumpling Girl 
Artist: Dyn (2019)
Location: 111 East Coast Road

Behind Rumah Kim Choo, access through a side road next to AlibabaR Hawker Bar or an alley along East Coast Road next to Kim Choo Kueh Chang.

Dumpling Girl

Fly up with Dumpling Ballons. This mural is located next to the Dancing Peranakan and behind Kim Choofamous for its dumplings. It features a lady in Peranakan Gear floating in the air with Dumpling Ballons.



You could see the floating effect when viewed from a certain angle.


15 #MedleyAlley 
Artist :Nicia Lam, Valerie Neo, Novena Angela, Yullis Lam(2019)
Location: 111 East Coast Road

Beside Kim Choo Kueh Chang, access through the side road next to AlibabaR Hawker Bar or an alley along East Coast Road next to Kim Choo Kueh Chang.

Medley Alley East Coast Road



Just a few steps away, you will reach Medley Alley. It's a narrow alley leading up to the main road - East Coast Road. Coated in bright yellow, it has a pair of wings covered with mosaics. 

Medley Alley East Coast Road

The wings are more apparent if the view is from East Coast Road. The mural is created by a team of 4 comprising Nicia Lam, Valerie Neo, Novena Angela, and Yullis Lam.


Medley Alley East Coast Road

While you are there, do pop into Rumah Bebe t check out the mini Peranakan Music. Then, have a bite of Kim Choo Kueh Chang before you continue your journey.


Rumah Bebe

16 Turtle Cape 
Artist: Ink &  Clog (2019)
Location: 152 East Coast Road S428855
Building next to Mount Pleasant Veterinary Center


Turtle Cove


Your next stop is a short walk away. Cross the other side of the road and head towards Mount Pleasant Veterinary Center. Here you will see a large Turtle swimming on a blue wall. It is a nod to neighbouring Tanjong Katong, Malay, for Turtle Point. The name Katong was also derived from a Javanese word for the leatherback turtle. Before the land reclamation, this area was close to the sea. So it would not be surprising to see turtles coming to the shores to lay their eggs here.

The mural is titled Turtle Cape by The Ink and Clog Studio. 

Turtle Cove


17 Children and Cat
Artist: Alvin Mak
Location: 208 East Coast Road, S428907
Katong Antique House

Children and Cat

Blink, and you may miss this realistic portrayal of a pair of children playing and a cat on the other side. Of the door, This mural gives out similar vibes to the ones in Georgetown, Penang, where playing children are depicted in the murals.

The mural is by local artist Alvin Mak and is commissioned by Katong Antique House.


You can check out the entire painting process in this video.



18 Katong Antique House
Artist: Alvin Mak
Location: 208 East Coast Road, S428907
Katong Antique House


Artist Alvin Mak has another Mural on the backside of Katong Antique House. This is only visible in the back alley.



There are 2 scenes in this mural. One depicts a dumpling seller, and the other a clog maker. A cat, a common sight in Katong, is painted on the mural too.




19 Chin Mee Chin Logo
Artist : Unknown (2021)
Location: 204 East Coast Road, S428903
The side wall of Chin Mee Chin


This is the Chin Mee Chin Logo. While it may not be your usual street art, it is still iconic enough to warrant an Instagram photo.


20 Ikan Kurau 
Artist: Unknown 2021
Location:  213 East Coast Road
7-Eleven

Ikan Kurau

The Ikan Kurau or Indian threadfin is common in local Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian cuisines. This mural, together with the Katong turtle mural, is a reminder of the state of the oceans today.



21 Justified 
Artist: Unkown
Location: 25 Still Road
St Patrick's Road, near Odyssey Preschool

Justified Mural

Further down East Coast Road towards Siglap, head towards Still Road. You would come across this mural near the junction of Still Road and St Patrick's Road. This is not listed on the KJC Art scene and is a private artwork done up by the house owner. 

There is a Chinese term that stands for Justified.


TANJONG KATONG ROAD

22 Animals for Life
Artist: Oak  & Bindi ( 2020)
Location: 330 Tanjong Katong Road, S 437106
Vets for Life Branksome Road 


Animals are a favourite theme along Tanjong Katong Road. However, this animal mural is posited just next to a vet clinic; how cliche!


23 Sunbird
Artist: Kiat 
Location: 190 Tanjong Katong Road, S 436992
Wareham Road, Teo Hin Tyres,


This sunbird sits on the wall on the side of the tyre shop. The floral display in front adds some depth to this mural.



24 HummingBird
Artist: Kiat
Location: 188L Tanjong Katong Road S 437156
Danji Korea BBQ Buffet


Located a street away is the hummingbird by the same artist. Unfortunately, he had mistaken the sunbird for the hummingbird during the painting process. In the end, he decided to paint both separately. Unfortunately, this mural is now partially blocked. 


25 The Good Garden
Artist: Miyuki Soh (2019)
Location: 90 Goodman Road S 439053
Goodman Art Center


Goodman Arts Centre is how to National Arts Council and has a few murals on the centre grounds. The Good Garden is one of them.


26 Unkowm
Artist: Danielle Tay (2020)
Location: 90 Goodman Road
Goodman Art Center

There is another mural on the opposite of 'The Good Garden.'


27 Jalan Tembusu GLS Site
Artist: Unknown
Location: Jalan Tembusu



This used to be the old Tanjong Katong technical school before it moved and became a hostel. The plot has been taken over by the government and will be sold for condominium development.



You could still catch a glimpse of the street art on the buildings outside the gate. Note that this is now private property, and trespassing is not allowed.


 These street art are located at Katong. Technically, you could cover all of them within a day, but it will be a long walk between each other. We suggest covering the Joo Chiat / East Coast area in a day and saving the Tanjong Katong route for another if you are on a walking tour. All the sites seen are from my jogging sessions around Katong, and I probably took 4 different routes to capture them.

At the end of your visit, you can pop into the eateries of East Coast Road for a well-deserved meal. If you need help locating a spot, head to our #hungrygoanywhere session to check out some of our reviews of restaurants in the vicinity.

Happy hunting!

Updated Jan 2023








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