Concept train to run from Marina Bay to HarbourFront to promote inclusivity through art
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Visitors at the Shaping Hearts roving exhibition in Suntec City on Sept 24.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
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SINGAPORE – Commuters travelling on the Circle Line from Sept 24 to Oct 20 might see a picture of a painting of two bees crawling over a dripping honeycomb, done by Mr Simeon Tan.
The 25-year-old, who has autism, loves to paint animals and robots, and hopes his artwork will help people become more aware that there are talented artists with disabilities living among them.
His painting, Honey and Bee, is one of 10 works of art featured in a special concept train that will ply a route between Marina Bay and HarbourFront stations.
The concept train is an initiative by the North East Community Development Council and public transport operator SMRT to celebrate inclusivity.
It is also meant to promote a roving exhibition called Shaping Hearts, where the actual paintings by Mr Tan and other artists with disabilities can be seen, in Suntec City until Sept 29.
Mr Simeon Tan with his watercolour painting, Honey And Bee, which symbolises love and hard work.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Growing up, Mr Tan picked up art first by sculpting putty-like Blu Tack, and later moving on to sketching on paper and painting.
“This (painting) shows how we should work hard like bees to get what we love,” said the aspiring full-time artist, referring to his exhibited artwork.
Mr Tan added that the exhibition has been “positively overwhelming”, as it is his first time publishing his work at such a public event.
North East District Mayor and Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo said he hopes Singaporeans who take the concept train will appreciate these works of art, and head down to the actual exhibition.
(From left) Mayor of North East District Desmond Choo and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment and for Transport Baey Yam Keng touring long walls featuring out-of-home advertisements at Promenade MRT station, on Sept 24, 2024.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
At the exhibition, visitors can buy artwork from the artists. The roving exhibition will culminate in an arts festival, which will be held from Oct 19 to Nov 3 at Our Tampines Hub.
Mr Choo pointed out that since the community of people with disabilities is growing, there is a need to raise awareness of “how we can be more inclusive as a society”.
He added that this collaboration with SMRT could provide a way for people with disabilities to gain an income, as corporations come forward to partner them and commission artwork.
Another artist whose artwork is on display is Mr Daniel Widjaja, 20.
Mr Widjaja, who has non-verbal autism, loves to paint and is particularly fond of birds, said his mother, Madam Yuliani Tjahjono, 52.
Mr Daniel Widjaja, 20, posing with his acrylic painting, Penguins In The Snow, at the Shaping Hearts roving exhibition in Suntec City on Sept 24.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
His painting, Penguins In The Snow, is also being exhibited at Suntec City.
Madam Tjahjono said Mr Widjaja taps his photographic memory to paint, to communicate his passion and love for birds.
He can look at an Instagram picture of a bird in flight and then put it to paper, she added.
“Daniel’s first word was not ‘mum’, but ‘duck’. Daniel loves birds, which is why he paints them,” she said.
Ms Reshma Rengarajan was one of the many people who stopped to look at the exhibition in Suntec on Sept 24. “The works of art done are beautiful. It makes me think how they (persons with disabilities) are exactly the same as us, and there are no differences,” said the 18-year-old student.
Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that commuters travelling on the Circle Line from Sept 24 till Oct 20 might see pictures of a painting by Mr Daniel Widjaja. This is incorrect. The picture is actually of a painting by Mr Simeon Tan. We are sorry for the error.
