Historical interpretations

WHAT comes to mind when someone mentions "Temenggong"? No doubt, the old Malay title for nobility will conjure images of Singapore's colonial past.

A group of Singaporean creatives were given free rein to create artworks in the context of Temenggong, not only as a title, but also as the name of a place. Temenggong Road, located near Mount Faber, is home to five colonial black-and-white bungalows, one of which, No 28, houses the Temenggong Artists-In-Residence. The non-profit arts organisation plans to hold annual exhibitions by local creatives to support their artistic talent.

The first edition of the Temenggong-SG-Creatives 2021 is titled Expressing Heritage: Art & Originality Unfold. It features the works of graphic artists Koh Hong Teng and Sonny Liew, architect Sim Boon Yang, designer Theseus Chan and art collective PHUNK. Their works are inspired by the history and surroundings of 28 Temenggong Road, and each has interpreted the theme very differently. The best time to view the exhibition is after dark, as visitors to the house are treated to an animated light display by PHUNK, projected on the facade of the bungalow. Inside the house, there are more artworks by the collective featuring prints of the Chinese word for love, written in PHUNK's self-designed font.