In a city where time is often equated to money, a new public art installation in Punggol is turning that proverb on its head. Starting March 14, OH! Open House—celebrated for its unconventional approach to heritage and space—will debut Marking Punggol at The Cove, Punggol Waterway Point. This unique collaboration with acclaimed Thai contemporary artist Mit Jai Inn offers residents and visitors the chance to take home museum-quality sculptures, but there is a catch: your wallet will be useless here. Instead, the art is “purchased” with pledged hours of community service.
Art with a Social Mission
The exhibition features 99 vibrant, papier-mâché sculptures crafted in the artist’s signature bold palette. Modeled after humble household stools, these works symbolize support and foundation. However, they are not for sale in the traditional sense. Interested collectors must commit to volunteering for Punggol-based social causes to earn their piece.
The “cost” of the work scales with its size:
- Small sculptures: 80 volunteer hours
- Medium sculptures: 100 volunteer hours
- Large sculptures: 300 volunteer hours
This initiative follows the success of last year’s Marking Matters?, where 32 participants logged a staggering 10,000 hours in fields ranging from animal welfare to firefighting. For this Punggol edition, organizers are aiming to hit that 10,000-hour milestone again, focusing the impact entirely on the local neighborhood.
How to Pledge Your Time
Participation is open to anyone willing to invest their time back into the community. While OH! Open House has curated a list of local partners, participants are encouraged to support causes that resonate with them personally.
Recommended local organizations include:
- Heritage Activation Node at Punggol (HAN@Punggol)
- Blood Bank @ One Punggol
- Enabling Services Hub @ Punggol
- SG Care Services @ Punggol by Allkin Singapore
The event also marks the first anniversary of the Heritage Activation Node, a collaborative project between the National Heritage Board and OH! Open House designed to celebrate domestic history and local stories.
Essential Dates and Participation Guide
If you are ready to trade your sweat equity for a piece of contemporary art, here is the roadmap for Marking Punggol:
- Visit the Exhibition: The showcase runs from March 14 to 29, 2026, at The Cove, Punggol Waterway Point. Admission is free and no prior registration is needed to browse the works.
- Attend the Briefing: Participation requires attendance at a mandatory briefing on March 29, 2026, from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at the venue. This session explains the logistics of the pledge and the verification process.
- Complete the Hours: Once your pledge is accepted, you have a full year—from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027—to complete your service hours.
By the end of the year, each sculpture serves as more than just a decorative object; it becomes a physical trophy of the time spent caregiving, mentoring, or organizing. It’s a rare opportunity to own a piece by a prominent international artist like Mit Jai Inn while directly strengthening the social fabric of Punggol.
For more details on the initiative and a full list of partners, visit the official OH! Open House website or follow their latest updates on Instagram.