Holland Village MRT mural pays tribute to area's heritage

Shuttered Thambi Magazine Store among landmarks depicted in 10m-long art piece

- Elisha Tushara

When local artist Ronnie Tan, 71, was commissioned by SMRT to create a mural about Holland Village's cultural heritage, he knew it would be a special project.

Over more than 40 years of living in the Bukit Timah area, he frequented popular haunts in Holland Village with his wife and three children almost every weekend.

It took five months for him to research the area, choose suitable landmarks to capture in the mural, and decide on a drawing technique.

Now, commuters passing through Holland Village MRT station can learn about the area's cultural heritage via a 10m-long mural beside the passenger service centre.

Two of the four landmarks depicted no longer exist - Thambi Magazine Store and the Dutch windmill on top of Holland Village Shopping Mall.

The other two landmarks are Chip Bee Gardens, and the intersection of Lorong Liput and Lorong Mambong.

Mr Tan said he chose to use an "ink and wash" technique, where he first sketched scenes using a fountain pen, and then added splashes of colour using the wet method.

This allowed the colour to spread naturally on the paper when applied.

He said: "The challenge was really capturing the place without it looking too realistic. I don't think that would have done it justice." The mural was launched on Sept 7 by Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, who is an MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC and oversees the Buona Vista ward.