A Whale of a Tale Playground Launch

HistoriaSG – The Dragon Playground in Singapore Design: From Near Extinction to National Icon

From tote bags to pins and murals across the city-state, the dragon playground has become a familiar sight in Singapore’s visual culture in recent years. Designed by public housing interior designer Mr Khor Ean Ghee in the 1970s, it was, however, systematically replaced by “safer” and more “fun” playground designs in the past two decades.

How did the dragon playground go from near extinction to a national design icon? By retracing the playground’s origins and its afterlife, this talk by writer and researcher Justin Zhuang explores what “Singapore design” could be and the role that design plays in the construction of national identities.

About the Speaker

Justin Zhuang is an observer of the designed world and its impact on everyday life. Since 2009, the journalism graduate has covered architecture and design for magazines in Singapore and around the world. He has authored several books about design in Singapore, including INDEPENDENCE: The History of Graphic Design in Singapore since the 1960 (2012) to the more recent Everyday Modernism: Architecture & Society in Singapore (2022). Together with his partner Sheere Ng, they run In Plain Words, a Singapore-based writing studio and publishing imprint. Find out more at justinzhuang.com.

A Lighter Side of History: "Swing" Back in Time

Join us in celebrating the playgrounds that brought communities together and continue to spark joy across all ages.

Led by heritage enthusiast and photographer Jerome Lim, the programme begins with a sharing session on Singapore’s playground heritage as we rediscover the playgrounds that have shaped generations of Singaporeans. Thereafter, take a tour of the Museum’s first intergenerational playground, A Whale of a Tale, to learn how playgrounds from the past inspired its design elements. Finally, take a fun trip to neighbourhood playgrounds in Singapore. Participants will discover captivating stories and little-known facts about these play spaces that hold a special place in the collective memory of the local community.

This programme is held in conjunction with the launch of the Museum’s playground, A Whale of a Tale. Recommended for participants aged 13 years and above.

All participants are advised to wear comfortable footwear and bring an umbrella or raincoat in the event of inclement weather. One-way transport will be provided from the Museum to the playground locations, and the programme will end at Sembawang Park.

Photographs taken during the programme may be used in the Museum’s publicity materials.

About the facilitator

Jerome Lim is the author and photographer of Uncommon Ground: The Places You Know, The Stories You Don’t, and co-author of Secret Singapore. As a photographer, he captures Singapore’s fast evolving urban and cultural landscape through his award-winning blog, “The Long and Winding Road”. Jerome is also a heritage consultant and licensed tourist guide.