Singapore Art Week (SAW) sets the stage for the annual cultural calendar, but one pioneering arts initiative is offering visitors an unusually intimate journey: an exploration of the historically-rich, industry-adjacent Moonstone Lane estate. For its 12th iteration, the independent group OH! Open House presents “OH! Moonstone: Everything Changes, Everything Stays the Same,” transforming this seemingly frozen-in-time neighborhood into a temporary gallery that examines themes of preservation, community resilience, and loss amidst rapid urbanization. Running from January 18 to 25, 2026, the unique walkable tour invites participants to step behind the facades of working spaces and private dwellings, synthesizing local history with contemporary artworks.
For more than a decade, OH! Open House has specialized in reimagining overlooked Singaporean neighborhoods, including Jalan Besar and Tiong Bahru, by using their residential and industrial spaces as exhibition venues. Their latest project deliberately focuses on the Moonstone area, which retains a distinct architectural and communal character reminiscent of the 1950s, standing in contrast to the city-state’s wider focus on modernity and progress. The exhibition’s narrative acts as a crucial pause button, prompting reflection on the cultural and historical elements often sacrificed in the pursuit of the “new.”
Unearthing Gems Along the Trail
The curated tour navigates unexpected intersections of art and daily life, leading visitors through active carpentry workshops, centuries-old shrines, and even into private family homes. The route blends encounters with long-time residents and historical anecdotes gleaned from the estate’s evolution, offering an unusually transparent look at a local community.
Highlights from the trail reveal the depth of this historical and artistic convergence:
1. 1 Topaz Road: The History of Cows
This rare freehold house, dating back to the 1950s, offers a powerful glimpse into a bygone era. Against this nostalgic backdrop, artist Robert Zhao’s installation, The History of Cows, pays tribute to the pastoral life that once defined the estate—specifically the practice of residents keeping pet cows. The installation involves manipulated photography placed within the home of four elderly siblings who have lived there for decades. The work evokes poignant memories of a family’s lost pet cow, juxtaposed with imagery of the legendary Coney Island cow that passed away in 2016, serving as a stark commentary on humankind’s widening disconnect from nature within meticulously planned urban environments.
2. Sim Choon Huat Temple: A Testament to Community Will
Tucked amidst the industrial landscape, the vibrantly colored Sim Choon Huat Temple stands as a powerful symbol of grassroots determination. Unlike many developments shaped solely by governmental planning, this temple was conceived and funded by the local community—specifically by wealthy businessman Bachoo Singh, who owned a significant portion of the estate.
The temple’s enduring presence highlights the ability of local groups to assert cultural identity and shape their environment, even as surrounding landmarks, such as the nearby Lau Clan lands, succumbed to infrastructure projects like the looming expressway. It represents a subtle, but defiant, triumph of “bottom-up” development against conventional “top-down” urban design.
3. Daily Diecast: Transformation and Renewal
Inside Poh Leng Building, a hobby shop specializing in die-cast cars provides the unexpected canvas for Thai designer Jarupatcha Achavasmit’s ethereal creation. The installation suspends approximately 18,000 recycled aluminium shampoo tubes—sourced from a Bangkok hotel—above the shop’s packed shelves. This large-scale, intricate textile-like art also incorporates salvaged materials like dismantled copper wires and rejected industrial safety belts, making a profound statement on global waste, material transformation, and the potential for renewal. The sheer scale and conceptual integration of the installation within the hobby shop’s unlikely location make this a must-see stop.
Planning Your Visit
The OH! Moonstone walk offers a unique opportunity for both history enthusiasts and art lovers to simultaneously explore hidden urban corners, discover thought-provoking contemporary art, and engage with niche local histories. In addition to the highlights, the trail includes stops featuring a historical Muslim tomb, a working woodworking studio, and large-scale installations crafted from everyday items.
The tour operates at Moonstone Lane from January 18 to 25, 2026, with evening slots on weekdays (5 pm-8:30 pm) and full-day tours on weekends (10 am-8:30 pm, last tour at 7 pm). Tickets are available for a $40 donation and can be claimed using SG Culture Pass credits, encouraging public access to this vital cultural exploration.