Graffiti and street art displayed in different lights at the largest Chingay community art installation

Singapore – Graffiti, more commonly associated with vandalism, stands to attract a different public response. Chingay Parade next year520 Singaporeans used spray paint and street art to express themselves in the event’s largest community art installation.

At 18 meters high and 60 meters wide, the installation consists of 28 shipping containers uniquely designed by the community to celebrate the country’s mix of cultures.

Austin “Skratch” Poh, 42, one of eight local artists who helped with the graffiti artwork, said the installation was an opportunity for the community to see graffiti in a different light.

“Many people associate the art of spray painting with vandalism and the ‘O$P$’ sign, but it’s actually a respected art form,” he said, adding, “Borrow money, You mentioned the message of the usurer that stands for ‘Pay me the money’. .

“Graffiti requires techniques such as shading, painting, blending and outlining, and not just irresponsible squirts of paint to render large letters and bright images,” he added.

The installation, he said, shows the public that with the right discipline and management, spray painting can be an amazing way for someone to express themselves.

The main focus of the artwork depicts performers surrounded by various iconic Chingay elements such as cultural motifs, costumes and props.

The same artwork also includes a hand net, symbolizing the convergence of Singapore’s many cultures and communities.

Conceived by Chingay Art Director Sam Lo, the installation serves as a backdrop during parade performances and complements the audience’s visual experience.

Following the theme of embracing tomorrow, the 36-year-old said conceptualization follows his own work as a street artist.

He led eight artists to mentor and mentor the public in spray painting workshops over four weekends in November and December.

“For me, as an artist working in public space, starting with street art, it feels like it’s come full circle because now it’s public’s turn to project their voice into these containers,” he says. I was.

Ada Soh, 42, and her family were among the participants in the installation. A mother of her three children, she had the opportunity to bond with her family and understand her children better while learning more about spray painting. “The pandemic has made us realize the importance of taking time to watch our children grow up,” she said.

Attending workshops and spending afternoons with her family were highlights of 2022 for her.