Art & Legacy:
A Living Collection
The creation of ‘Time Flows Relentlessly Like Water’ by Aeropalmics, hand-drawn in charcoal onsite at 21 Carpenter’s Rooftop Infinity Pool & Lounge
Art at 21 Carpenter is ever-evolving — a thoughtful curation that pays homage to our heritage while embracing new expressions of creativity.
What began as a curated collaboration with The Artling has since evolved into a living collection, enriched by new additions that reflect the hotel’s continued growth and vision. Each piece, whether commissioned or collected, is thoughtfully selected to echo our heritage, celebrate cultural narratives, and inspire connection within our community.
Singapore River V evokes a deep sense of nostalgia for old Singapore, capturing the essence of the city’s once-vibrant streets and shophouses. Through expressive brushstrokes, the painting depicts these iconic buildings, emphasizing their history and impermanence with slightly distorted shapes. Small human figures evoke the lively community life of the past, with shopkeepers and pedestrians representing the bustling trade. The golden hues in the sky, evoking either dawn or dusk, represent a moment of change—perhaps a commentary on Singapore’s rapid modernization. Lim’s unique approach blends bold, expressive strokes with traditional Chinese ink painting, merging structure with fluidity to create a dynamic and emotional depiction of the Singapore River area.
Singapore River V serves as a poignant tribute to a fading past, capturing the spirit of old Singapore before its transformation. The painting reflects Lim’s profound emotional connection to the city’s heritage, offering both a visual and cultural commentary on memory and change.
READERS AND WRITERS #1, 2023
BY HEMAN CHONG
430 (H) x 410 (W) cm
Readers and Writers #1 is the first in a series of tapestries that celebrate the world of literature and its profound impact on our lives. The tapestry’s colorful blocks represent different books, symbolizing the diversity of human experiences and knowledge found within literature. It highlights the library as a sanctuary for wisdom, preserving the collective knowledge of humanity.
The piece connects authors, who share their stories, to readers who find meaning and comfort in them. It emphasizes the transformative power of storytelling and how readers bring written words to life, making them a part of their own personal narratives.
Visions of Splendour explores how tropical environments were transformed by empire and the lasting impact on the land. The artwork highlights the contrast between the natural beauty of the tropics and the changes brought by colonization, revealing how the land was reshaped through the vision and ideals of empire
Dwellers in the Mirage reflects how colonial powers shaped their ideas about tropical regions, projecting their own values and beliefs onto the land. The painting is influenced by the way colonialism affected both the environment and the control over it, focusing on the relationship between nature and power during the colonial era.
Drawing inspiration from a phrase in historical remittance letters, “时间真如流水不情” (translated as “Time flows relentlessly like water”), this piece captures the fluidity and constant movement of time. By positioning the hotel at the edge of the bay, the artwork mirrors the shifting nature of water, using its ebb and flow as a metaphor for the passage of time and the inevitable changes it brings.
