“When I first saw the Singapore River thirty years ago, it was a very busy river, and was colloquially known as the “Mother River” by some people. The Singapore River was the economic lynchpin of the country. I love the old Singapore River, and believes it is worth people’s nostalgia and remembrance.”

“I once walked along the Singapore River from Great World City to Marina Barrage in the evening. It was this experience of walking along the river that made me deeply feel the infinite scenery and vitality of the Singapore River. The cultural and natural scenery on both sides of the river, as well as the different styles and colorful bridges on the river, impressed me deeply. Walking along the breezy Singapore River is an extremely beautiful experience.”

“Singapore River has always inspired many artists to paint along the river banks, resulting in many amazing masterpieces by our first and second generation artists.

Although the glorious days of the river as a bustling port are long gone, Singapore River and its surrounding architectures and landscapes still offer many visual treats to me as an artist. The vibrant mix of heritage shophouses, modern skyscrapers in the background, and bumboats cruising along the river creates a dynamic contrast that makes for various visually stunning compositions.
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“When I first came to Singapore thirty years ago, the river was clear, free from the trash and smells of the past. It’s a history worth remembering, now preserved in documents, films, and paintings.

Today, the river has changed. Gone are the days of hard labor under the hot sun. Now, it feels more organized, almost too clean. But as dusk falls and the city lights up, the river comes alive with people and colorful boats. It’s a reminder of the hard work and dreams of those who built this city.”

“There is some pity that some infrastructures such as the ocean tower and hawker centre were removed around the iconic Fullerton hotel. They were replaced with Modern skyscrapers during the redevelopment of the singapore river during the 1970s and 1980s.

But this development also shows the modernisation of our country. The old warehouses were conserved, paying a nice tribute to the colourful history of the river while the skyscrapers and banks reflect our country’s prosperity.”