New installation at Bukit Brown Cemetery to feature artefacts recovered from graves

A new outdoor installation at Bukit Brown Cemetery featuring artefacts recovered from graves is scheduled to be completed by August 2024.

In a Facebook post on Jul. 8, the Singapore Heritage Society announced that the installation was part of a project called "Voices of Bukit Brown".

In partnership with a community group, all things Bukit Brown, and supported by the National Heritage Board, the project marks a "significant milestone in raising awareness of Bukit Brown's heritage".

It also aims to promote the heritage of Bukit Brown Cemetery through public programmes and activities.

The installation at Bukit Brown will display artefacts recovered from the exhumation of around 4,000 graves.

The exhumation began in December 2013 to make way for Lornie Highway.

The project will run in phases over the next two years. The first phase, which involves developing the outdoor installation, aims to be completed by August 2024.

Promote Bukit Brown Cemetery's history

Singapore Heritage Society noted that the installation would provide "a unique platform for visitors to engage and experience Bukit Brown holistically".

With inputs from researchers and volunteers from the Singapore Heritage Society and all things Bukit Brown, the installation will feature around 80 unclaimed, above-ground artefacts.

Visual artist Chen Sai Hua Kuan was commissioned to create the installation because of "his sensitivity as a sculptor to context and space and thoughtful interpretations of everyday lives and situations."

Catherine Lim, from all things Bukit Brown, pointed out that "the unique use of the artefacts serves as a fitting memorial, echoing the stories of how people lived in the past with a soundscape designed for reflection".

A fundraiser was set up by the Singapore Heritage Society, appealing for funding and support.

"We humbly ask for your support to ensure the habitat, heritage and history of Bukit Brown is not forgotten, is appreciated, and will be conserved for future generations."

Top photos via Joseph Nair and the Singapore Heritage Society