Roaring in Chinatown

2022 is the Year of the Water Tiger, an animal that symbolizes strength, power, and prosperity. According to the Chinese calendar, the year you were born might determine your personality. Each year is represented by an animal, called a Chinese Zodiac Sign, and people born in the year of the Tiger have similar traits to the animal. People born in the years of the Tiger are ambitious, courageous, self-confident with a sense of justice, and generous with a drive to help others.

For that, Tiger is believed to bring bold change and positive action and replace the passive Ox (2021). In this pandemic, we need a bold change of this crisis we are experiencing worldwide and the only positive result we desire is to be cleared of this incubus virus.

The Year of the Rat (2020) was about survival, and the Year of the Ox (2021) was about endurance. The Year of the Tiger will be about making big changes.

This year, Lunar New Year officially starts on February 1, 2022. Tiger and dragon symbols, decorations, and installations are dominantly everywhere. From advertisements, shopping malls, and train stations are adorned with tiger caricatures and the dominant color is red. Red means prosperity in the Chinese community.

Here in Chinatown Singapore, tigers are roaring around the Kreta Ayer Square fronting the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. Twelve different life-sized tiger sculptures are mounted on full display outside the square.

Supporting Tigers

To celebrate the Year of the Tiger, World Wild Fund for Nature Singapore (WWF) is partnering with Chinatown Festivals Committee and Temenggong Artist-in-Residence, students and artists have painted 12 different life-sized tigers sculptures displayed at Kreta Ayer Square, from 7 January to 15 February 2022. These sculptures help to raise awareness of the importance of tiger conservation. Soon, a new project called Tiger Trail is due to launch in February 2022, to raise social awareness.

Let’s head to Chinatown Square and hunt down these magnificent tigers to welcome the Lunar New Year.

MEET THE 12 TIGERS

1. THE ART FACULTY AND THE ANIMAL PROJECT

Concept of Artwork: Emerging artists Asher, Janelle, and Megan desire to showcase a joyful and loving home for the Malayan tigers with splashes of cheerful colors creating a dynamic and fun background. Drawing their passion for animals, talented artists Jun-Yi, Keegan, and Keen, drew the tigers engaging in different activities using broad paint markers. They hope people can get to know the Malayan tigers beyond them as predators, and they can live happily in the tropical rainforest, their natural habitat.

2. NANYANG ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS (NAFA)

Concept of Artwork: Gold represents the precious Malayan tigers. The textured tribal and topographical lines on the tiger signify an abstract representation of their natural habitat in Malaysia. The red paw sparks the tiger’s critically endangered status and yet radiated hope inhumanity’s efforts to eliminate the poaching of tigers globally.

3. MILENKO PRVAČKI (Singapore)

Designed by Milenko Prvački. He is one of Singapore’s foremost artists and art educators. He was Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at the LASALLE College of the Arts for 17 years and currently holds the position of Senior Fellow.

Concept of Artwork: “Tyger Tyger, burning bright….. All of us should make our voices heard on the urgent issues our planet is facing – our land, water, and animals. This is my small contribution to save and protect tigers.” – Milenko

4. “XINGXING”

Concept of Artwork: XingXing is painted in celebration of 2022 stars. This nocturnal animal brings in light in darkness with its arrival, creating awareness with its presence.

5. ZIMBIRI

Concept of Artwork: She painted the tiger using traditional materials used in Bhutanese art: saa-tshen (earth paint). She is a strong advocate of the tiger conservatory as well as considered precious in Bhutanese mythic history.

6. ASHLEY YEO

“The falling flowers over the tiger… the painted florals feature various species of endangered and rare flowers as a reminder to preserve the remaining landscapes for the protected flora and fauna. Once these plants and tigers are extinct we would no longer be able to enjoy their beauty”.

7. RED HONG YI

Designed by Chinese-Malaysian artist, Red Hong Yi. Known as “the artist who paints without a paintbrush”, she creates mixed-media installation by reinterpreting everyday materials through the accumulation of objects.

Concept of Artwork: The concept of invites audiences to consider the survival of two beautiful forms, the passion, dedication, and sacrifice that is required to keep them alive, and the consequences if we fall. Materials and processes employed are based on those found in traditional crafts. The main construction material is ratan, similar to the making of the lion dance head. knotting and cording are used to secure the joints, showcasing the art of Chinese knots.

8. ON THE SEARCH

Concept of Artwork: The painterly strokes and colors on this Malayan tiger are abstract representations of their habitat. The landscape of clouds and vast wilderness worn by the tiger signals a sense of loss as the tigers are losing their home, eventually leading to extinction.

9. LILY… TIGER LILY

Concept of Artwork: Lily is a tigress who is nurturing, protective, tender yet very strong. The black base paint was mixed with the soil Lily was standing on. White clay was used to give character to the flowers, and the butterflies are made of porcelain.

10. YIP YEW CHONG