Singapore: Haji Lane
One of the best decisions I made was choosing an Airbnb near Haji Lane, Arab Lane, and Beach Road. Haji Lane, located within the heritage center of Kampong Glam, was once an empty street with prewar houses and has been reborn now overflowing with quirky shops, outdoor cafes and a plethora of exceptional murals everywhere you look. Once I discovered the street art in this area…as you know by now I am obsessed, I fell in love immediately. This whole area is worth just wandering about and tucking into any and every shop, stop at any random café for a bite, and there are so many choices for some much needed libations.
The owner of the Mexican restaurant, Piedra Negra, commissioned the intricate art you see in and around the restaurant. It depicts Aztec, the indigenous people dominant in Mexico before Spanish conquest in the 16th century. It is undisputedly the wall that started the vibrant street art scene here. The wall is the work of Didier Jaba Mathieu, a Columbian-born graffiti writer and street artist. He is the same artist for many of the eye-catching murals along Haji Lane. His style is highly refined and complex, taking inspirations from his travels and experience as a concept artist and digi-matte painter with Lucasfilm.
This is Faces from the past commissioned by The Singapura Club. This monochromatic mural featuring elderly and historic characters in the artwork: an old man in turban, a Samsui woman and a Malay man, provides an interesting contrast to the other brightly colored murals along the street. It also depicts the multi-ethnic identity of The Singapura Club, a restaurant that serves Asian and North Indian food.
This work is done by Ceno2, a local graffiti artist who found international fame and is known for photo-realistic human portraits.
