Bringing acts of kindness to life with cats – with Clarence Ho

“The arts can be a powerful tool that brings communities together, beautifying the places we call home.”

In the background of lively zumba and Tai Chi sessions at 185 and 186 Boon Lay Avenue are stretches of colourful murals intricately detailing the neighbourhood’s cats and residents.

Helmed by artist Clarence Ho and funded by the Housing Development Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Lively Places Fund, with support from the National Arts Council, Cats and Kindness focuses on beautifying our everyday spaces and creating a safe haven for expression in Singapore.

A behind-the-scenes look at the process of ‘Cats & Kindness’, where contributors from all walks of life work on the wall together , Image Credit: Clarence Ho

Block 185’s mural depicts the heartwarming interactions between residents – scanning a nearby QR code with your mobile phone will awaken the mural with soundscapes of friendly conversation and laughter. Block 186's mural honours the neighbourhood's love for its community cats. Use the 3D Augmented Reality (AR) filter hosted on Facebook and Instagram, and you can hear the cats on the mural meowing! 

The project was no easy feat, with the coordination of many eager contributors and volunteers. Besides close collaboration with the Boon Lay Zone D Residents’ Network and its Chairman, Johny Tan, the murals’ completion also relied on the help of many other passionate residents and volunteers. It was a community effort where people from all walks of life – from school students to families young and old – came together to contribute.

Read on to learn more about how the project came to be.

1. What inspired the concept for your project under the Lively Places Programme, and how did you develop the idea?

I reached out to the Boon Lay Zone D Residents' Committee and its Chairman, Johny Tan, who suggested the theme. We worked together to ensure the project reflected the interests and values of the residents, making it a true community effort.

For example, Block 186 has many cat lovers, so we focused on that, creating a mural that highlights the personalities of the community cats. Meanwhile, the kindness-themed mural at Block 185 captures the everyday warmth and connections within the community.

Using a 3D AR feature available on Facebook and Instagram, viewers can see the cats mewing and playing, making the murals interactive and engaging.

Clarence Ho smiling down at a community cat

2. Could you walk us through your creative process from conceptualisation to execution?

My creative process for the mural began with painting the initial concept, which was then digitised and animated to be supported by AR on Facebook and Instagram for an interactive experience. I’ve been incorporating AR into my artwork because I felt it would be more immersive and exciting for the audience. This project is the first time I used AR on wall murals.

Cats and Kindness involved co-creating with around 40 residents, including repeat volunteers and one-time participants. Everyone worked together to paint the mural in small parts. Their efforts helped make this large-scale project less daunting! It was also very heartening to see over 100 people attend the launch event, showing their support.

Residents of all ages, from adults to schoolchildren, working together on the mural

3. What do you hope residents will take away from experiencing your artwork in the context of its public space?

I hope the murals bring joy and delight to the residents who pass by every day, and for those who participated to feel a sense of ownership over this community project. I believe art can transform lives, inspiring people to practice kindness and reinforcing their passions, such as a love for cats.

Artist Clarence Ho alongside contributors that worked on ‘Cats and Kindness’

4. Are there any future projects or collaborations you're excited about, either within the Lively Places Programme or beyond?

I'm excited about an upcoming project in another zone at Boon Lay called Social Etiquette. This project, focusing on community and also supported by the Lively Places Fund, will feature two murals at Blocks 260, one of which will incorporate AR.

5. What advice or insights would you offer, based on your experience with the Lively Places Programme, for prospective artists interested in contributing to public spaces?

If you have a project that you believe is beneficial for the community, share it! Always share your thoughts and ideas, and bring your project forward for others to see and support.

Volunteers working on different parts of the mural , Image credit: Clarence Ho

_{The project is part of the Lively Places Programme, a joint initiative by Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore (URA) and the Housing & Development Board (HDB), together with the National Arts Council (NAC), to support community-led efforts in enlivening Singapore’s public spaces–fostering a #DistinctiveCity by encouraging co-creation between artists and community stakeholders.}