Young graffiti "rebels" in Singapore have found a haven where they can creatively express themselves, free from the country's ban on street art within an abandoned shopping mall destined to meet a wrecking ball later this year, as reported by South China Morning Post.
The PlayPan Art Initiative with A Ticking Lifespan
Normally, street art done within the confines of the nation requires strict permission from its authorities but not in Peace Centre, which is a half-century-old shopping center located in the Dhoby Ghaut District, which began attracting artists all around the Southeast Asian country.
In August of last year, entrepreneur Gary Hong came up with an initiative called PlayPan and convinced the developers involved with the mall's eventual demolition to postpone it to give way for what Hong describes as "a social experiment to bring [the] community together."
The developers then responded in goodwill, allowing Hong and his initiative to host a myriad of performances and workshops for some months.
Since then, artists, charities, students, and small businesses alike have been able to set up their businesses for free or at really cheap price points.
Because of this, the then-deserted shopping center is now a sprawling cultural space comprising of pop-up stores, musical performances, and even art tours.
However, the eventual demolition of the mall is still definitive, bringing an end to the surprising grandeur of the art project at the tail-end of January.
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The 'Peace Centre' Shopping Mall's Transformation
Before it became a haven for Singapore's street art enthusiasts and for the last twenty years, the mall was mostly known for the printing shops and the countless "sleazy" karaoke lounges within it.
But since its revamping, the space has attracted more young people within its premises than it has done in the past decades, with its graffiti workshops, artsy shopfront, and second-hand clothing stalls and exhibits that have become the prime loitering spots for would-be patrons.
The mall's once sterile-looking bathroom walls and mirrors are now adorned with wide graffiti murals whilst punk "rebel against the authority" kind of music bounces along its halls.
A space like this, teeming with such an unregulated creative force, is quite rare in one of the most financially capable countries in Asia, Singapore.
The 43-year-old photographer-patron Gabriel told SCMP that the mall was "very non-Singaporean, very organic" and described the "energy" within the space as "really exciting."
"I'm going to miss this community very much. I'm glad to have plugged in and participated in this swan song," he added.
