Fifteen viaduct pillars at Admiralty MRT station have been transformed into a vibrant public art installation, celebrating the cherished family recipes, traditional remedies and personal memories of 32 seniors from the Woodlands community.
What do homemade liang teh, traditional rempah and treasured family recipes have in common? Beyond their familiar flavours and comforting aromas, they carry stories of family, heritage and generations of wisdom.
These everyday traditions are now taking centre stage in a colourful new public art installation at Admiralty MRT station. Titled Rooted Remedies: Healing and Feeling, the artwork transforms 15 MRT viaduct pillars into a vibrant canvas inspired by the memories and creativity of the area’s senior residents.
Unveiled on 14 November 2026, the installation is a collaboration between the National Arts Council (NAC) and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), featuring the creative contributions of 32 seniors aged between 58 and 84 from NTUC Health Active Ageing Centre (Care) (Kampung Admiralty).
Created by local visual artist Soph O (waywardclouds), with project management by The Block A Collective, the installation celebrates the community’s shared heritage while bringing art into an everyday public space.
At the heart of Rooted Remedies: Healing and Feeling is a simple but meaningful question: What plants have cared for us throughout our lives, and what wisdom can we pass on to future generations?
To explore this, participating seniors took part in five creative workshops, sharing personal stories, family recipes and traditional remedies that have been passed down through the years.
From homemade liang teh and traditional rempah to herbal tonics, each recipe offered a glimpse into the participants’ lives, bringing back memories of home, family gatherings and the comforting rituals of everyday life.
The seniors also visited a community herb garden, where they learnt more about familiar plants and their traditional uses. Along the way, they were introduced to basic art and design techniques, using their newfound inspiration to translate personal memories into visual expressions.
Experimenting with watercolour, crayons, Nagomi art, collage and sketching, the participants created individual artworks inspired by familiar ingredients and plants. These creations were subsequently brought together in the final installation, spanning 15 pillars beneath the MRT viaduct.
The result is a collective artwork that celebrates not just the beauty of nature, but also the stories, knowledge and connections that bind a community together.
For artist Soph O, the conversations and shared experiences behind the artwork were just as important as the finished installation. Her artistic practice explores the relationship between everyday experiences and memory, often using light, colour and layered techniques to capture the shifting nature of recollection.
Through this project, the seniors’ stories became a source of inspiration, allowing them to revisit cherished memories of kampung life, reconnect with their roots and share traditions that have shaped their identities.
Each recipe represents more than a list of ingredients or instructions. It is a living story of love, resilience and devotion, reflecting the care that families have shared across generations.
The installation also serves as a gentle reminder of the importance of preserving traditional knowledge. As younger generations become increasingly distanced from some of these practices, the artwork encourages visitors to take an interest in the remedies, recipes and wisdom that have been passed down through their families.
Like seeds nurtured and planted anew, these traditions can continue to grow
