These pictures are pzrt of a hug mural on the back wall of the Chinese temple I photographed last week.
They depict emigres leaving China to go to Singapore over 200 years ago, their arrival, and various aspects of Singapore life and development they have contributed to since then. It also depicts fresh waves of mainland Chinese arrivals (particularly women who worked in building industries) since the 1950s.
A curved street of houses is still there - one street back from Telok Ayer, and is the street on which I photographed this mural on the back wall of the temple. One might assume they used the modern street as the model for the mural perhaps - but in any event you get the picture of history rising from and around it.
And this one represents an Indian milk seller - also a significant feature of the early community on this site.
Beautiful murals. Some very clever and artistic persons must of worked very hard on this. Looks amazing
ReplyDeleteThe mural is beautiful and poignant - a very effective way of teaching history. The sculptures are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteFascinating sights from Chinatown. I'm interested to see the Indian milk seller. Are not a high proportion of East Asians lactose intolerant?
ReplyDeleteCheers, Gail.
Good question. I think milk/milk derivatives features large in Indian subcontinent diet (ask Yam-aunty perhaps). Is buffalo milk any different in that respect?
DeleteHari OM
DeleteBoth buffalo and cow's milk are used extensively in Indian diet/cuisine. Indians and Sri Lankans are are referred to as South Asians. East Asians are what would once have been called Orientals - and yes, many Chinese/Japanese/Vietnamese etc have an increased intolerance for lactose digestion... though the truth is that most of the human population develops some degree of intolerance even in western society. Without going away to research, memory serves that it is greater than fifty percent in the total population, but in the East Asian population, I think greater than seventy five percent have lactose intolerance to varying degrees... Yxx
Beautiful artworks to walk past every day.
ReplyDeleteHari Om
ReplyDeleteA delight for the eye and the mind to explore all aspects of this mural - and I always enjoy street installations such as these bronzes. ... and am adjusting to the fact you are hours ahead of us and posting in the middle of the night! (...here...) YAM xx
Sorry - sometimes not sure what day I end up in. Forgot it was nature friday for instance.
DeleteI can't decide which I like best, the statues or the mural. both are really amazing. yam's a delight to the eye fits every photo on your blog today. history told by art displays is to me the best way to learn it
ReplyDeleteAny Ming vases or bric a brac stalls? I love anything Oriental, especially Japanese tea gardens.
ReplyDeleteSorry Dave it seems way too upmarket (so far) for bricabrac. I found 'Jade Houses', and goldsmiths, a shop with imperial style embroideries, expensive watches, but no places to go a rummage with a few bob in your pocket. There is a Japanese teahouse across the road from my digs but even a 15gram packet of green tea cost eighteen Singapore dollars there (about £12). I daren't ask how much the tiny cups cost.
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