Craft x Design: Heritage Reimagined

EVENT DETAILS

ORGANISED BY

DATES

11 Sep - 3 Oct 2025

OPENING HOURS

Various timings

VENUE

Various locations

ADMISSION

Free

ORGANISED BY

DATES

11 Sep - 3 Oct 2025

OPENING HOURS

Various timings

VENUE

Various locations

ADMISSION

Free

ABOUT

The National Heritage Board presents two distinctive installations that celebrate the intersection of heritage and contemporary design in Singapore’s vibrant Arts & Heritage Precinct.

Craft x Design at Armenian Street showcases innovative collaborations between traditional craftspeople and contemporary designers. Under the creative direction of acclaimed designer Nathan Yong, the showcase features work from both its inaugural 2021 edition and latest 2025 collection. Highlights include a vanity stand crafted with rattan-maker Chen Foo Kee, a table lamp created with Peranakan embroidery artisan Heath Yeo, and a wood-carved vase developed with traditional effigy-maker Francis Tan. The exhibition also presents earlier collaborations including ‘Harmony Sphere’ (a Chinese lantern), ‘Refined Rangoli’ (a lamp inspired by Indian art), ‘Rejuvenation Gown’ (featuring Peranakan beadwork), and ‘Raya Furniture’ (inspired by ketupat weaving). Visitors will have a chance to try their hand at the craft of community weaving with textile artist Natalia Tan.

At the National Library, Tran-Slates: Cultural Heritage Craft x Contemporary Design presents Scientia, an innovative art bench conceived by Saurabh Mangla and curated by Justin Loke of Vertical Submarine. This functional sculpture merges traditional Chinese calligraphy by artist Tan Seow Wei with contemporary concrete craftsmanship. Shaped like a boat, the bench incorporates the word ‘knowledge’ in Singapore’s four official languages, symbolising our multicultural heritage and journey of continuous learning.

These installations demonstrate how Singapore’s cultural heritage can be preserved and renewed through thoughtful design interventions, creating meaningful connections between tradition and innovation.

PROGRAMMES

Craft x Design

This showcase features remarkable collaborations between traditional crafts practitioners and contemporary designers in Singapore.

Date:
12 Sep – 3 Oct 2025

Time:
Thursdays & Fridays: 12-2pm, 6-8pm
Saturdays & Sundays: 10.30am-6.30pm (includes drop-in community weaving with textile artist Natalia Tan)

Address:
Armenian Street
S179942

Admission:
Free Admission

The National Heritage Board presents a showcase of works from its Craft X Design (CxD) initiative, which paired traditional crafts practitioners with designers to develop innovative prototypes that aim to reimagine the boundaries of craft and design.

The showcase will present works from both its inaugural 2021 edition and upcoming second edition. Acclaimed designer Nathan Yong, who led the second edition collaborations, will serve as Creative Director for this showcase at Armenian Street, which aims to uphold the relevance of crafts amidst a changing design landscape.

The showcase takes place in Armenian Street, which lies in the heart of the Bras Basah. Bugis precinct. Home to a range of cultural institutions and businesses including the Peranakan Museum, the Street’s unique mix of culture and commerce will lend itself to this activation of craft and design.

The second edition of CxD, completed in 2025, features three innovative collaborations by Nathan Yong:

A vanity stand crafted with rattan-maker Chen Foo Kee
A table lamp created with Peranakan embroidery artisan Heath Yeo
A wood-carved vase developed with traditional effigy-maker Francis Tan

The exhibition will also present the works from CxD’s inaugural edition in 2021:

‘Harmony Sphere’, a lantern created by traditional Chinese lantern maker Jimm Wong and design studio NextofKin
‘Refined Rangoli’, a lamp inspired by the art of Rangoli and developed by Rangoli artist Vijaya Mohan and designer Jarrod Lim
The ‘Rejuvenation Gown’, created by Peranakan beadwork and embroidery artist Raymond Wong and design studio Aller Row
‘Raya Furniture’, inspired by the art of weaving ketupats and created by Ketupat weaver Anita Tompang and designer Andrew Loh

Works from the second edition will be made available to pre-order as part of the showcase.

Top Image: Credits: National Heritage Board

Tran-Slates: Cultural Heritage Craft x Contemporary Design

Knowledge takes shape: Multilingual art bench at National Library merges heritage craft with modern design

Date:
11 – 21 Sep 2025

Time:
10.00am – 9.00pm

Address:
National Library
100 Victoria Street
Level 1
S188064

Admission:
Free Admission

Curated by Justin Loke of Vertical Submarine, this project cleverly merges “slate bench” and “translates” in its title, exploring the reimagination of cultural heritage through contemporary design. Located in the historically rich Bras Basah.Bugis (BBB) precinct, the initiative creates benches that transcend mere functionality to become symbolic sculptural forms, each expressing unique stories and memories through modern interpretations of traditional craftsmanship.

“Scientia,” conceived by Saurabh Mangla, stands as a testament to Singapore’s linguistic and cultural diversity. The bench’s design draws inspiration from the word “knowledge” in Singapore’s four official languages—English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil—reflecting the nation’s multicultural heritage. At its core, the bench features intricate calligraphy patterns by Tan Seow Wei, an award-winning artist from the Siaw-Tao Chinese Seal Carving, Calligraphy and Painting Society, who brings decades of mastery in Chinese ink painting and seal carving to this work.

Designed in the symbolic shape of a boat, “Scientia” represents life’s journey through the seas of knowledge, embracing continuous learning and growth. Created using Pan-United concrete through innovative 3D printing techniques and recycled materials, the bench exemplifies sustainable design while maintaining artistic excellence. Positioned at the Central Public Library, this functional art piece invites visitors to contemplate Singapore’s diverse heritage while experiencing its contemporary aesthetics, serving as a bridge between tradition and innovation.

Official Sponsor: Pan-United Corporation Ltd

Top Image: HeritageSG

ORGANISER

National Heritage Board

The National Heritage Board (NHB) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community, and Youth (MCCY). It undertakes the roles of safeguarding and promoting the heritage of our diverse communities, for the purpose of education, nation-building and cultural understanding. It manages the national museums and heritage institutions, safeguards and promotes intangible cultural heritage, and sets policies relating to heritage sites, monuments and the national collection. Through the national collection, NHB curates heritage programmes and presents exhibitions to connect the past, present and future generations of Singaporeans. Please visit www.nhb.gov.sg for more information.

HeritageSG

HeritageSG is a subsidiary of the National Heritage Board, a statutory board under Singapore’s Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. HeritageSG drives flagship events such as Children’s Season, Singapore HeritageFest, and the Singapore Night Festival, and also manages national institutions like the Children’s Museum Singapore, Changi Chapel and Museum, and Reflections at Bukit Chandu. HeritageSG also leading initiatives in archaeology, travelling exhibitions, and digital engagement. By fostering collaboration across the ecosystem and combining tradition with innovation, HeritageSG deepens heritage connections and nurtures a strong sense of national identity. Visit www.heritage.sg for more information.

CO-ORGANISER

Justin Loke (Vertical Submarine)

Vertical Submarine (VS) is a Singapore-based art collective. The group has exhibited internationally such the Gwangju Biennale 2012 and has received accolades including the President’s Young Talents Award (2009) and the Celeste Prize (New York, 2011). VS curates the Creative Intersections series for Funan, CapitaLand, and presented Cathay Hotel the highlight act of Singapore Night Festival 2022. For Singapore Design Week 2025, they are also presenting Care-Full Shelter at Marina Central District.