SMRT Trains unveil Singapore’s longest hand-drawn historical art mural at Tanjong Pagar MRT station

1. Commuters passing through Tanjong Pagar MRT station can now view the longest hand-drawn historical art mural in Singapore, which was launched today by SMRT Trains, in partnership with Tanjong Pagar Community Club (TPCC) and Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru Grassroots Organisations (GROs), to enliven and enrich commuter experience on its MRT network.

2. Titled “Singapore on Canvas”, the artwork by local artist Ng Peng Sing measures 67 metres in length and 1.7 metres in height. It depicts key events, dates, sites, and figures from Singapore’s history from a rural backwater through to colonial times under the British, World War II, the journey towards independence, rapid development into a first world nation under the founding Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew, and up to the present day. 

3. The mural, which is a printed version of the original canvas, will be on display at Tanjong Pagar MRT station for at least a year as part of SMRT’s “Communities in Station” programme which aims to strengthen affinity with communities and enhance commuter experience on its MRT network.

4. At the official launch today, it was unveiled by the event’s Guest-Of-Honour Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance, and the Second Minister for National Development. She is also a Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency.

5. Mr Ngien Hoon Ping, Group Chief Executive Officer, SMRT Corporation Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have this opportunity to host this mural which depicts Singapore’s rich history and heritage. We are also honoured that an SMRT train is featured in the artwork, along with icons like our national airline as an integral part of the Singapore story. “Singapore on Canvas” is a beautiful, significant, and meaningful piece of artwork which we hope will spark conversations among commuters and enhance their commuting experience as they commute through our network”.

6. Mr Ng, who is an artist and member of the TPCC Art Club and a distinguished member of the International Art & Culture (Singapore) Federation, took 22 months to complete the “Singapore on Canvas” mural by hand. He said: “Each era illustrated in the mural has a different narrative – the joys and struggles unique to each generation – but together, it tells the Singapore story. Much of the painting is inspired by my personal life experiences. I hope it will evoke fond memories of earlier days and a sense of nostalgia among the older generation while kindling the curiosity of younger Singaporeans to find out more about the nation’s rich history while they commute”.

7. The “Singapore on Canvas” mural is the latest initiative under SMRT’s “Communities in Station” programme which includes Comic Connect, a collaboration between Singapore’s pioneer rail operator and members of the local art community to install heritage-themed comic wall murals across 35 SMRT-operated MRT stations island-wide.

8. This year, SMRT Trains also installed community pianos at selected MRT stations and signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding with the National Arts Council to enhance vibrancy and commuter experience in SMRT’s transit spaces through music, poetry, and busking.

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