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Singapore: Power Washer Stops Art, Sparks Debate
9 Jun
Summary
- Artist Marcus Pang was stopped by SMRT staff for alleged chemical spraying.
- Police cleared Pang, but he was later advised on permits.
- Pang's artwork was removed before he could complete it.
An artist known for power-washing drawings on walkways, Marcus Pang, encountered a dispute with SMRT staff outside Mountbatten MRT station. Pang was apprehended after a complaint alleged he was spraying chemicals onto grass, which he denied, explaining his art uses only water jets.
Police intervention confirmed no offense was committed, though Pang received advice regarding permits or endorsements for future works. Nevertheless, his pavement artwork was unfortunately removed before completion.
This incident has prompted discussions on artistic expression versus public space regulations. MP Gho Sze Kee noted that the area is under SMRT's jurisdiction and highlighted the ongoing tension between creativity and societal rules.
Singapore has seen prior debates on public art, such as a controversy in June 2024 concerning a cigarette removal from a Chinatown mural. Gho emphasized that rules are necessary for shared spaces, even if they sometimes feel restrictive.
