Katong is more than just good food and Peranakan Culture.
A walk around this idyllic neighbourhood will find old shophouses lining the
streets of East Coast and Joo Chiat Road, with a splatter of condominiums
and landed enclaves surrounding these picturesque streets.
To add flavour to your visit to this Katong district, look for street
art or murals painted on shophouses, landed properties and back alleys.
While it may not be as well known as the street art of Georgetown, Penang, it does hold its own. The street arts Katong are commissioned mainly
by Katong Joo Chiat Art Circuitand some independent works. Sadly, the famous artwork by Ernest Zachervic
has disappeared, but new murals are popping up along Joo Chiat Road.
These are the main street art locations at Joo Chiat Road and East Coast
Road.
JOO CHIAT ROAD
1 anatomical Reverberation; Recollections of you from a
distance
Artist: Sop O (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 combining familiar forms and patterns overlaying 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 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.
3 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.
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
Artist: 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 The Dog Artist - Unknown Location: 241 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427498
The origin of this mural is a mystery to us. However, the shop on which the
wall was painted is called wag-a-tail, where you can adopt puppies. They may
be related.
7 Tom & Jerry Wall Mural (2024)
Artist: Papadem
Location: 290A Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427542
This is a new mural for 2024. The mural commemorates the Tom and Jerry
series set in Singapore and references local and Peranakan Culture.
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 3 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 hidden at the side, while the right showed a street
hawker of yesteryears.
This is a reproduction of The Great Wave. Located inside a private house
along Crane Road, off Joo Chiat Road, you cannot gain access to it. If you
are around the British Hainan restaurant, you might get a glimpse of it.
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.
Tucked in an alley leading to the 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 it,
turn onto the minor 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.
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 Choo, which is famous 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. It is coated in
bright yellow and 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 to 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 was 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.
TANJONG KATONG ROAD
21 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!
22 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.
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.
23 The Good Garden Artist: Miyuki Soh (2019) Location: 90 Goodman Road
S 439053 Goodman Art Center
Goodman Arts Centre is home to the National Arts Council and has a few
murals on the centre grounds. The Good Garden is one of them.
24 Unkowm Artist: Danielle Tay (2020) Location: 90 Goodman
Road Goodman Art Center
There is another mural opposite 'The Good Garden.'
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
section to check out some of our reviews of nearby restaurants.
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