Painted between 2017 and 2021, the scenes are panoramic yet intricate and provide a visual history of Singapore including major cultural festivals and traditions such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, Hari Raya Haji, Chingay procession and the Hungry Ghost Festival. Yew Chong grew up in Chinatown and now resides in Tanjong Pagar, so his intimate knowledge of the area’s legends and stories evokes a sense of travelling back through history.
“Sofitel Hotels have always supported the arts and we are proud to showcase such an incredible artist as Yip Yew Chong with an exhibition that will allow our guests, loyalty members, VIPs and team members to step back in time to a golden era in Singapore’s past. The hotel stands near the scene of one of the artworks, so people will be able to get a real sense of how much the city has developed over the years,” said Wouter de Graaf, General Manager of Sofitel Singapore City Centre.”Tanjong Pagar is such a colourful neighbourhood and the hotel stands within a short walk to many of Yew Chong’s murals in nearby Everton Park and Chinatown, so it’s the perfect spot to immerse yourself in the works of this amazing artist.”
To allow guests to really connect with the art of Yip Yew Chong, the hotel is offering for the month of March a special Yesteryear Peranakan menu which will highlight some favourite dishes that reflect Yew Chong’s childhood and are depicted in the paintings. Yew Chong has also hand-drawn a beautiful walking map of the area, which the Sofitel will give to in-house guests so they can explore the artist’s murals in and around the hotel after the exhibition.
Members of ALL – Accor Live Limitless loyalty program will have the chance to attend special evenings with the artist to hear him share the stories of each artwork and dine on traditional Peranakan dishes depicted in the paintings. Entry to the exhibition is free and guests who stay in-house will be able take away a special hand-drawn map by the artist, so they can further explore his murals on a walk around the neighbourhood.
Sofitel hotels are always destinations where art and culture are celebrated and Sofitel Singapore City Centre has collaborated with numerous artists and exhibitions since opening including William Sim, who produced an exclusive colouring in book featuring the hotel. The Sofitel has become an intrinsic part of the cultural life of Tanjong Pagar and regularly hosts exhibitions and events that spotlight art.
“I am excited to bring this exhibition to the Sofitel Singapore City Centre and to allow the people of Singapore to enjoy these artworks, which not only tell intimate stories of Singapore’s past but are very much a representation of my childhood and my imagination,” said Yip Yew Chong. “I painted these works over the past four years including a quite prolific period during the pandemic. I hope they will bring some joy at a time when we can’t travel overseas but we can still travel back in time and space in our minds. I also hope the exhibition will inspire others to share their own stories of yesteryear, and their hopes for the future.”
The Sofitel Singapore City Centre is offering dining and stay packages for those who wish to immerse themselves more fully in the artist’s work. From just $349++, the Stories from Yesteryear Package includes overnight accommodation in a Luxury Room, access to the exhibition, breakfast for two, a curated Peranakan-inspired set dinner at Racines, a hand-crafted cocktail inspired by the artworks and a selection of Peranakan tapas at 1864, as well as the hand-drawn map so they can explore some of Yip Yew Chong’s murals that are located close to the hotel. Guests who book a staycation can even enter a competition to win a special high tea experience by posting photos of the murals and posting them to their Instagram. The packages are available from 26 February to 31 March and can be booked here.
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