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| A closer look at the "Neighbourhood Gems" of the Bukit Timah Railway Corridor. The installation features train cabins painted during inclusive pre-festival workshops with seniors, students, and MINDS clients. (Photo Credits: People’s Association – PAssionArts) |
The Bukit Timah Railway Corridor came alive once again at this year’s Bukit Timah PAssionArts Festival, where an 8-metre-long community-built train art installation stole the spotlight. What made it extra special? Residents themselves added the finishing touches right at the Festival Village, turning the piece into a true “living artwork” that celebrated both heritage and community spirit.
This colourful installation is a heartfelt tribute to the area’s rich railway history, most notably the Bukit Timah Truss Bridge - a conserved landmark that has stretched across Bukit Timah and Dunearn roads since 1932.
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| Adding to the story. A young resident places her hand-painted creation onto the 8m-long installation, one of the highlights of the festival where the artwork evolved with the community's touch throughout the day. (Photo Credits: People’s Association – PAssionArts) |
A Journey of Co-Creation
The train wasn’t just built overnight. It was the result of a multi-stage, co-creation process led by artist Didier Ng and her team. Before the festival, workshops brought together seniors from St Luke’s Elder Care and students from Clementi Primary School, who created the individual art pieces that would later form the installation.
At the festival itself, residents joined in by painting train tracks and penning down heart-shaped “love letters to SG” on recycled boards, adding them directly onto the artwork. The result? A vibrant piece that grew with every participant’s story and touch.
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| A moment of playful discovery at the Bukit Timah PAssionArts Festival. A young resident interacts with the colourful train track, one of many segments designed and painted by the community at the on-site art booths before being added to the final installation. (Photo Credits: People’s Association – PAssionArts) |
Celebrating Neighbourhood Gems
This year’s PAssionArts Festival theme, “Our Neighbourhood Gems,” is all about uncovering the places and stories that shape our everyday lives. The old railway line, which first began operations in 1903, has since transformed into today’s beloved Rail Corridor, and the installation perfectly captures that evolution—linking past memories with present-day sustainability.
Residents reminisced about train rides to Johor and encounters with local wildlife, while the installation itself incorporated upcycled materials such as offcut wood, plastic boxes, and even “hearts” made from plastic bags. It was as much about conservation as it was about nostalgia.
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| The community's train journey is complete. The 8m-long Bukit Timah Railway Corridor installation stands as a testament to the spirit of co-creation at the PAssionArts Festival. (Photo Credits: People’s Association – PAssionArts) |
“Where Got Space?” – A North West Giant Delight
Another highlight to see again was “Where Got Space?”, a Giant Delight installation created in celebration of Singapore’s 60th birthday. I first came across it last Sunday at the PAssionArts Festival tentage during the North West National Day Heartlands Celebrations on 10 August, and it made its return here at Bukit Timah too.
This playful piece reimagines everyday neighbourhood icons like Ghim Moh Market & Food Centre, Bukit Timah Hill, and Pang Sua Pond, through the lens of daily life and sustainability. Led by eco-artist Didier Ng, residents joined in to craft whimsical details using recycled materials: from felt vegetables and plywood letterboxes to speech bubbles cut out of styrofoam boards, each one reflecting stories and voices from the community.
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| Creativity in action at a PAssionArts booth. Residents painted train tracks, contributing their finishing touches to the ever-growing artwork on the spot. (Photo Credits: People’s Association – PAssionArts) |
The good news is these installations aren’t going away just yet. You can continue to catch them at Firefly Park @ Clementi in the coming months (unless there are changes to the schedule). Plus, there’s even more to come as all the 13 Giant Delight installations will be popping up across various heartland locations starting late September 2025.
So whether you’re chasing nostalgia, curious about community art, or just looking for a fun and meaningful day out, these installations are well worth checking out. After all, they’re not just art, they’re our neighbourhood stories, told together.
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