Singapore is in the midst of a bittersweet transformation, waving goodbye to iconic spots like the Punggol East Container Park and the Tan Boon Liat Building. But a bold new arts series is flipping the script, asking what lives on when the physical structures fall away. Called Departures, the initiative from independent arts collective OH! Open House sends artists into sites facing closure, redevelopment, or transition to capture the stories, skills, and relationships that risk vanishing.
The program invites the public to consider a profound question: When a place physically disappears, what is truly worth carrying forward? Through a mix of art installations, archival artifacts, and communal meals, Departures treats intangible heritage as seriously as concrete walls. It is a new lens for urban preservation—one that puts people, practices, and memory at the center.
The Sea: Kelong E63
The first edition, running October 23 to 25, takes participants into the world of Kelong E63, one of Singapore’s last working offshore kelongs. This is a rare look at a fading industry—in the 1940s, more than 250 licensed kelongs operated in Singapore’s waters.
Artist-curator Daniel Chong works with relics donated by the late Uncle Timothy Ng, who ran the kelong alongside his wife Maureen for over two decades. Old fishing nets and weathered wooden floorboards become the raw material for an exploration of how everyday objects absorb decades of human life.
The experience deepens with a meal prepared by Kenny Lek of Pasarfish. As guests dine, Lek shares stories of Singapore’s shifting relationship with seafood—from kelong-sourced wild catch to modern aquaculture—touching on biodiversity, food security, and the city’s changing waters.
The Land: Sin Siong Lim Sawmill
On November 7, Departures moves from the coast to the city’s last operating sawmill, Sin Siong Lim Sawmill. The business traces its roots to the early 1900s, evolving from processing imported logs to milling wood sourced from Singapore’s own urban landscape management—essentially, trees that fall or are cleared as the city grows.
Two artists interpret this site through distinct mediums. Robert Zhao Renhui captures the sawmill through photography, while Lewis Choo works in sculpture and ceramics, drawing on the raw timber and the generational knowledge held by the Lim family.
What’s Next: Golden Mile Tower
Departures is built to last beyond this year. OH! Open House has already announced a third edition for 2027, focused on a beloved vinyl record shop inside Golden Mile Tower, ensuring this method of memory-keeping becomes a fixture of Singapore’s evolving cultural landscape.
By blending documentation with artistic creation, Departures offers a replicable model for honoring a city’s history without freezing it in amber. It recognizes that memory, craft, and community outlast any structure.
Plan Your Departure
- Departures: Kelong E63 | October 23–25 | Two-hour sessions at Golden Mile Tower | Tickets: $108
- Departures: Sin Siong Lim Sawmill | November 7 | Sessions 9–11am, 1–3pm, 4–6pm | Tickets: $68
- Tickets and information: OH! Open House booking portal
For a deeper look at preserving heritage in unexpected places, check out Timeout’s guides to Singapore’s emerging cultural events and community-driven art initiatives.