MAKING GEMS IN KEMBANGAN | LUMEN the community and beautify the MRT station of Kembangan .”
Armed with discerning eyes , our Josephians ambled on sidewalks
Oliver Khoo ( pictured ) walking through the main entrance corridor of Masjid Kassim .
and found themselves drawn to places that were sites of communal activity . Oliver , for instance , was drawn to the Masjid Kassim , a mosque with bold , yellow archways and a green spire that reached for the skies . Mesmerised by the intricate pattern work that was found in every space of the holy place of worship , Oliver was soon greeted by a Muslim congregant who invited him in and showed him around . The warm welcome was also felt when he entered the golden-coloured and reflective hall of the Buddhist Union ’ s main temple located much nearer to the slope of Kembangan . Says Oliver , “ Being allowed to enter these places of worship when there was no one around allowed me to experience the architecture in all its glory .”
Mentored by artist-alumni , Mr Alfonsus Wong ( Class of 2004 ), Oliver illustrated the ornate patterns and symbols that he was enthralled by in these religious buildings . On the right of his mural design , he features a beautiful Buddha that sits and waits with the faithful in the main temple , and on the left he balances this with a sharp-pointed , geometric door found within the
Alfonsus Wong ( Class of 2004 )
mosque that points of qiblah ( the direction towards the Kaaba in the sacred mosque in Mecca ). Oliver ’ s sensitivity to details can be seen in the common floral patterns found in both buildings that are now visually woven together to create a cohesive narrative of the faithful communities that live in peace and harmony in Kembangan .
Cohen also found himself drawn to the tall , geometric architecture of Our Lady of Perpetual Succor Church . Its exterior walls are interspaced with colourful stained glass featuring portraits of Saints and values of Hope . Many residents , regardless of faith , would recognise the tapestry-like mosaic that rests on the surrounding walls leading up to Upper Changi Road .
“ Kembangan is a vibrant neighbourhood that I explored to learn about its unique characteristics . I learnt about its rich heritage , with diverse communities living harmoniously , as well as how the area also boasts cultural events , historical sites and a variety of local cuisine ,” shares Cohen . For his section of the mural , Cohen created a surrealistic scene that provides viewers with a three-sided , 180 ° view of the angular façade , along with graceful , sweeping forms with vignettes of the church ’ s parish activities that swirl around its architecture .
His mural space blends into Jiong Yang ’ s painterly clouds that can often be seen against the backdrop of Kembangan Community Centre ( CC ) when one stands by the green expanse adjacent to the station on a sunny day . Over the course of researching the history of Kembangan , Jiong Yang also discovered that the CC was opened by our late founding father , Mr Lee Kwan Yew in 1963 . The Year 4 JAP student used Procreate , a digital illustration iPad app , to draw and paint Mr Lee waving to neighbours in the estate during his tour of the environs at the opening ceremony .
The pair of murals is slated to be installed at Kembangan station over the next few months , and is part of a broader initiative by SMRT to engage both professional artists and schools to create artworks to capture the vibrancy of life , activities and stories of various stations across the island . It was no surprise that Mr Alfonsus Wong ’ s name came up fairly quickly as an industry professional that our young Josephians could connect with and be coached by . Says Mr Wong , “ I thought it felt like a weirdly apt bookend to this strange affinity I ’ ve had with SJI and murals over the years - working on one as Chairman of the Design Club , as the later teacher-in-charge of Design Club , and managing the project now as an individual .”
The team worked tirelessly and also had to juggle their time with the demands of school or professional working life . “ Time management and the deadline set for us were the most challenging parts about creating this mural ,” says Cohen , “ The deadline allowed me to learn how to arrange my schedule in a way where I had enough time to work on the mural while still going about my
9