The tranquil grounds of the newly opened Jurong Lake Gardens was transformed into a merry-land for families young and old on 27 July as the PAssionArts Village 2019 unveiled a series of fun activities and art.
IT professional Abhilasha Mageshkumar, 36, and her husband were among the 135 families who took part in the “Let’s Paint Together” mass canvas painting event at Lakeside field. “Both of us usually go for our monthly painting classes at the residents’ committee, where our teacher will instruct us on how to paint different concepts such as bags and animals,” said Bukit Batok resident Madam Abhilasha, who painted a gigantic flower. “As I work a 9-to-5 job, painting helps to relieve stress, and the bright colours make me happy.”
Toh Guan Road resident Mr Winson Lee, 39, and his family also enjoyed their first brush with art as they attempted to create their first artwork. “It’s very relaxing and inspiring for us to paint in this setting, with the Jurong Lake and lush greenery behind us,” said Mr Lee, who works in the engineering field.
Residents also took part in various arts and crafts booths such as stamp carving, soap making and coaster making using marble. Ashwitha Yaligara, 7, took part in the leather tag-making activity with her father. “I enjoy using the hammer to carve out the initials and painting designs on the tag. Painting is my favourite hobby, as I can put my imagination into a drawing,” said Ashwitha.
Two new Singapore Book of Records were set at the festival as 500 residents gathered with Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam; Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth; and Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for Social and Family Development, and Second Minister in the Ministry of National Development; Dr Tan Wu Meng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Trade and Industry; Mr Ang Wei Neng, MP for Jurong GRC(Jurong Central); Mdm Rahayu Mahzam, MP for Jurong GRC(Bukit Batok East); Mr Murali Pillai, MP of Bukit Batok SMC, to form the largest line of painters with their artworks from the mass painting event. The residents also created the largest tape art in Singapore, featuring the evolution of the nation’s housing from past to present.
to form the largest line of painters with their artworks from the mass painting event. The residents also created the largest tape art in Singapore, featuring the evolution of the nation’s housing from past to present.
Later in the evening, the ministers unveiled the Garden of HeARTs installation painted by Taman Jurong residents. The 200 “Garden of HeARTs” comprised 4,000 multi- coloured big, medium and small hearts hand-painted by residents and young families, capturing their hopes and dreams. These will be displayed island-wide over a four-month period.
In line with the festival’s “Carousel of Time” theme, residents were taken down memory lane to reminisce about the good times, as they caught a mega-origami butterfly installation and musical performances.
In a Facebook post, Mr Ang Wei Neng, Advisor to Jurong GRC Grassroots Organisation and the Chairman of Jurong-Clementi Town Council, shared that the festival attracted thousands of residents from the west to enjoy various arts-related activities together. Dr Tan Wu Meng, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC, also said in his Facebook post that he was happy to meet many young families and see children, parents and grandparents spending time together to making art. “I was very happy to catch up with some of our Clementi students from Pei Tong Primary School, who presented a mass angklung performance together with friends from our Clementi community at the event,” he added.
