Wall Murals at HDB Void Decks in Serangoon Central Foster Social & Art Community Spirit

I’ve been noticing some murals springing up in the city in recent months, even our humble HDB flats have been catching my eyes more. There are plenty of unique, compelling HDB blocks in Singapore which are painted in vibrant colours or feature giant murals on their walls, boasting all sorts of creative designs from abstract art to pop art. Their bright splashes of colour brightening up the once-grey walls, they never fail to perk me up! Singapore may be a concrete jungle, but as the murals on the streets and charming heritage buildings show us, you can find beautiful art almost everywhere in the city. Since many of the oldest and prettiest buildings have been demolished these past few years, it is time to start paying more attention and appreciate wall murals as a community. I don't wish to wait till it's too late to treasure the colourful murals around us. 

The HDB void decks in Serangoon Central were given a fresh, colourful coat of paint. That’s the dose of nostalgia these murals offer. Many of those murals harken back to Singapore’s simple kampong days as a fishing village, while you’ll can also find a lively mix of everything from Sir Stamford Raffles to our modern buildings in the area. They are great examples of meaningful and impactful ground-up initiatives and the final product is a new appealing space that many residents, both young and old, treasure and are proud of.

Still think public housing blocks in Singapore are boring? I hope you'll change your mind after you get to the end of this article. 

The vibrant colours are reflective of the liveliness of the town. The town is also filled with lush greenery that brings nature closer to one’s home. ​These are some colourful murals that even locals are unaware of. ​

​I think each town should have its own kind of style, it would bring a little regional diversity to a small country. HDB has given us the opportunity to create our own home. Living in a HDB flat is an experience unique to Singaporeans, providing many heart-warming stories and shared memories that bring us closer as a community. ​

Some of my friends had asked me what exactly is mural art. My view is that murals usually are not similar to different works of art. They have got an alternative function, an alternative kind of influence on your existence of people whom observe these people. These are community artwork from the greatest perception, since they are in fact designed in public, with the local community hunting with. Great community artwork says a thing about the local community. Murals usually display your issues, hopes, values and also memories in the local community the place that the murals are generally coloured.
 
Life is already challenging enough, we don’t need concrete grey blocks to shove it into our faces and make us feel worse. The creation of these murals help all of us to uphold the kampong spirit where residents from all walks of life unite to build a better tomorrow for the community. I hope this will strengthen community bonds, and enhance inclusiveness within your own estates.

If you now think that we should have more murals, especially on dull coloured HDB flats, then start planning a trail to visit these interesting designs and murals located islandwide!