Chingay: Road to UNESCO Mural Design by the Community

Marking a significant milestone in our journey to celebrate Chingay as a living heritage. Launched to ignite community creativity, the competition saw an overwhelming response, drawing participation from aspiring artists and Chingay enthusiasts across the island.

We received a diverse range of entries that beautifully interpreted our rich multicultural traditions and the vibrant spirit of the parade. This collective enthusiasm reflects our shared pride in Chingay and reinforces our community's commitment to supporting the joint nomination for the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

#1 - VIBRANCY by Sun Jiaze (1st Prize)

For over 50 years, Chingay has beautifully captured the spirit of multiple generations of Singaporeans - their love for performance, unity and our nation. Through this mural, the artist wishes to bring this vibrancy of Chingay for the world to see and appreciate, as well as to encapsulate the experiences of everyone in this decades-long journey, whether as a performer, organiser or audience.

#2 - A TASTE OF CHINGAY by Chua Daphne (3rd Prize)

This mural is an imagination of a possible Chingay scene, where each performer is dressed up as a local dish, forming a line-up that showcases Singapore's diverse food culture. Behind the performers, iconic landmarks are transformed into floats, creating a scenic backdrop that evokes a sense of belonging.

#3 - TAPESTRY OF JOY by June Koh (Consolation Prize)

This mural presents Chingay through seal script calligraphy and a vibrant parade of Chinese, Malay and Indian performers, as well as lion and dragon dances. Inspired by hidden-object puzzles, it includes local icons like laksa and Vanda Miss Joaquim, reflecting cultural heritage and unity in diversity.

#4 - HERITAGE IN MOTION by Carrie Tan Shu Ting, Natalie Tok Wenqi & Phoebe Leong Hai Yan (2nd Prize)

This mural celebrates our identity through traditions, storytelling, community spirit, and Chingay's evolution. A tiger—illustrated in batik and shadow puppetry—playfully interacts with a lion decorated with Chinese and Indian-inspired motifs. Together, they embody harmony, diversity, and resilience, symbolising unity among different ethnic groups. Sparks surrounding them capture the energy and liveliness of Chingay. The mural is framed by a Peranakan tile border featuring iconic dishes from different cultures in Singapore.

#5 - OUR LITTLE RED DOT OF JOY by Trixia Pearl Del Rio De Vera (Consolation Prize)

This mural embodies Singapore's growth and the diversity of the Chingay Parade on its journey towards UNESCO recognition. From left to right, it begins with a trail of dragons that recalls Chingay's early beginnings; red symbolises our nation and the unity of cultures. Chingay's energy and spirit are expressed in bold colours. With vibrant patterns and Singapore's iconic landmarks at the centre, JOY is the focal point, celebrating diversity with the message that everyone can pursue their dreams as One Nation, One Voice, and a Million Dreams through timeless joy.

#6 - THE CHINGAY SPIRIT by Heng Wee An (Xing Wei'An)

This artwork showcases Chingay's journey, starting from a simple celebration among the Chinese in neighbourhoods, to a huge yearly celebration among all races with strong and vibrant community spirit, as well as the five decades of hard work leading to UNESCO recognition.

#7 - KALEIDOSCOPIC by Chong Mun Ling Amanda

Chingay is a festival where we celebrate Singapore's multicultural unity and diversity with flamboyant costumes and floats. This mural is inspired by the colours and dynamic movements of performers where 服装和化妆融为艺术 (costumes and make-up come together as art). The word "Chingay" highlights the beauty of elements coming together as one.

#8 - CHANGE IN MOTION by Alex Tan (Consolation Prize)

This vibrant mural uses a dragon's scaled body to depict 50 years of Chingay. From sepia tones to vivid hues, it reflects Singapore's multicultural spirit, symbolising unity, growth, and the festival's continuous evolution in motion.

#9 - WHERE IMAGINATION ROARS by Mohammed Shahrizam Mohamed Shariff (Consolation Prize)

This mural captures the dreamlike spirit of Chingay and its aspiration towards recognition by UNESCO. It begins with two children opening a book, symbolising imagination and the endless possibilities of storytelling. A magical wave of colour and fantasy flows from its pages, unfolding into a vibrant celebration of Singapore's multicultural essence. Dance, costumes, and motifs from ethnic traditions intertwine, showcasing harmony, diversity, and our nation's unified heartbeat. The culminating float—a majestic lion—roars proudly, symbolising Chingay's enduring strength and vitality. This is a tribute to our rich cultural mosaic and to Chingay's vision of being recognised globally as a living heritage that inspires unity and imagination.

#10 - CARNIVAL OF CULTURES by Shweta Gusain

This artwork for the Chingay Parade celebrates Singapore's vibrant heritage and the unity of its people. The artist drew inspiration from traditional cultural motifs and colours that represent the rich tapestry of our nation's history. It reflects the harmony, resilience, and diversity of our community spirit.