There’s nothing more distressing than to see prime space gone to waste, companies and people who vacated buildings that gradually become rundown eyesores to the community around them. However, a group in Singapore is working hard to turn such places around, transforming them into sites that people can be proud of once more.
Social Creative is an organization whose aim it is to promote community art initiatives, bringing art to unexpected places. One such place is a defunct amusement park that had become a blight in its surrounding neighborhood. However, once Social Creative and its army of artists and members stepped in, the decaying site was transformed into a void deck art gallery — the first of its kind in the nation.
Social Creative organizes and helps complete such murals, bringing unexpected pops of art in the outside community. One participant says that bringing art to the people who usually don’t get to enjoy it is important. Art belongs everywhere in the world, not just hanging on the walls of a museum in expensive frames. The charity group has painted well over 200 murals in dozens of void decks of defunct locations.
The communities where these artworks appear get a say in the theme and look of the murals. Social Creative works with residents and community leaders to decide on what the end product will look like. Many volunteer to help complete the projects, leading to a sense of pride in the work and the community around it. Once finished, the murals beautify and increase interest in the neighborhoods, even helping to curb vandalism and littering.
The gallery continues to expand, bolstered by awards and the support it has received. Some of the artwork has even been featured in a music video and on a CNN travel story. This past year, the void deck art gallery expanded into additional neighborhoods, featuring murals on everything from pop art to cubism. Other additional void deck art galleries feature scenes of pastoral life and historical moments special to the neighborhoods where they appear. Participants say the murals are important ways to engage and communicate with other people, as well as methods to increase interest in neighborhoods.
If you don’t have a chance to become involved with Social Creative or the mural projects they help organize, think about participating by taking an art class. SGArtClass.com offers a comprehensive listing of dozens of different lessons in a wide variety of genres, including assemblage art, found art, mural painting and many more. Art is a wonderful way to relax while opening different parts of your mind up to creative problem solving. Taking an art class would be a good way to diversify your hobbies and offer a way to build on other skill sets, such as organization, perspective, and more. And if you enjoy one art class that you take, there’s no reason why you can’t sign up for another one in a completely different subject to expand your knowledge.
To read more about the murals and the community art efforts, go to http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/putting-art-heartland.