Update: 10 Jul 2024: Samsui woman mural to stay, building owner fined $2,000 for not getting approval
The fine was issued because the owner “began work” on the mural “without approval from URA”
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a joint statement on July 10 that the controversial mural of a smoking samsui woman on 297 South Bridge Road can stay but have issued a composition fine of $2,000 to the owner for the unauthorised mural.
According to the statement, the fine was issued because the owner “began work” on the mural “without approval from URA”. The representatives of the landlord, Shepherd Asset Management, previously told The Straits Times (ST) it had not applied for prior approval for the mural design from the URA but made a submission on April 19. A request from the authorities to resubmit a proposal by May 22 was also not met.
The joint statement added that the mural “does normalise smoking” even as “most members of the public do not see this as an advertisement for cigarettes”. The authorities are looking at ways to minimise that impact, adding: “We will therefore work with the building owner to find appropriate ways to mitigate any impact that the mural may have in promoting smoking, without modifying the mural itself.” The controversy erupted when Singapore-based American artist Sean Dunston took to Instagram on June 19 to say URA had ordered the erasure of a cigarette from a mural at 297 South Bridge Road. The public outcry against the move, citing historical revisionism, was reported in ST on June 21.
URA to re-evaluate stance over Chinatown mural featuring smoking samsui woman after public feedback
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is re-evaluating its position over a Chinatown shophouse mural depicting a young samsui woman smoking, due to recent public feedback. The authority had earlier given the landlord a deadline to erase the cigarette from the artwork.
In response to CNA's queries on Saturday (Jun 22), URA said that all proposals for murals on conserved buildings must be submitted to both the building owner and URA for approval before works can begin. However, the mural on the conserved shophouse at 297 South Bridge Road was completed without prior approval and URA said it had informed the building owner to submit the mural proposal for assessment. "After consultation with local stakeholders and relevant agencies, the proposal was not supported as the depiction of smoking on the unauthorised mural is not aligned with Singapore’s anti-smoking policy," said URA. "In light of recent public feedback, URA is re-evaluating its stance on the mural."
The mural's artist Sean Dunston told CNA he was thankful that URA was taking another look at its decision, and he hopes that the authority will allow the mural to remain as it is now. He referenced an email from the authority asking the landlord to delay any work on the mural until its review is completed. "It’s important that the public feedback (URA uses) to regulate images seen in public be more even-handed (or at least less offensive than the art it’s criticising) and that enforcement of policy regarding art, in particular, be more nuanced and geared towards supporting art and discussion," he said in response to queries.
Outcry over mural of samsui woman with cigarette: URA requests delay in changes as it reviews stance
Singapore-based American artist Sean Dunston was scrambling to modify his work as the URA issued a July 3 deadline
Singapore-based American artist Sean Dunston was scrambling to modify his work as the URA issued a July 3 deadline for a new proposal and cited the potential loss of the temporary permit of the business operating there, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, which expires on July 27. On Instagram, Dunston had then suggested drawing over the cigarette with a kitten, a taco or an opium pipe. But the URA has temporarily asked for the mural of the smoking samsui woman – which was defended on a Reddit thread citing archival sources as being historically accurate – to stay on the walls of the historic area where the pioneering migrant labourers once lived.
Many online commenters said the mural was a recognition of samsui women’s labour and lives, and erasing the cigarette in the mural amounted to historical revisionism. One Reddit user questioned: “Why are we trying to change history?” Indie Singapore Tours, which runs tours in Chinatown, commented on Dunston’s Instagram post that the samsui women “do back-breaking work, with their only respite their laced ciggies”. The mural is one of their guests’ favourites, the group commented. In an e-mail update to the landlord, who is represented by Shepherd Asset Management, dated June 21 and seen by ST, the URA said it had “taken note of additional feedback regarding the mural”. In the e-mail, the URA asked the landlord “to delay any works to the mural until the review is completed”. The e-mail did not provide a timeline for the review. In response to ST’s queries, the URA emphasised that while the mural was “completed without prior approval”, the authorities are re-evaluating its stance in the light of recent public feedback.
URA order over ‘offensive’ mural of samsui woman with cigarette sparks online debate
The URA told the landlord that the mural is “not aligned with Singapore’s anti-smoking policy stanc
An order by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to erase a cigarette from a Chinatown mural has sparked discussion online about public complaints and the censorship of street art. The mural, which depicts a young samsui woman holding a smoking cigarette, was completed in early April on the exterior of 297 South Bridge Road. The URA subsequently told the landlord in an e-mail dated May 8 that the mural is “not aligned with Singapore’s anti-smoking policy stance”, according to a spokesperson from Shepherd Asset Management, who represents the landlord.
In a later e-mail seen by The Straits Times dated June 18, the URA also cited feedback from an unnamed member of the public that the woman depicted “looks more like a prostitute than a hard-working samsui woman” and was “offensive”. The URA in the e-mail requested a “revised proposal” by July 3, and a failure to do so “will be taken into consideration for any application for the renewal” of the building’s temporary permit for the restaurant. The said restaurant is Ya Kun Kaya Toast, whose Temporary Permission expires on July 27. The mural’s artist Sean Dunston, 50, an American citizen based in Singapore since 2009, told ST over a phone call that the authorities should “try to find a little more balance”, as censoring the work outright was “too rigid and too draconian”. Dunston took to Instagram to share about the incident, and his post has since garnered over 1,300 likes and more than 110 comments mostly in support of the artist.
It is well-documented that samsui women smoked cigarettes as a form of recreation after their hard labour and even stored cigarettes under their trademark red headgear. South Bridge Road was where many of these pioneering migrant women from Guangdong province stayed. “Normally, samsui women are portrayed as old women – but when they came to Singapore, they were young and you don’t really see that kind of depiction. I thought it would be nice to change it up to show a younger woman and catch them in a situation when they were not working,” says Dunston of his artistic vision to render the strength and beauty of the samsui women. “It’s kind of suppressing the potential of Singapore’s art and it’s a bummer,” he adds. “The people who make these rules are afraid of offending people or sending the wrong message to kids – and I do understand that – but sometimes you can’t avoid it when you are talking about certain subjects and talking about a historical subject.” As to the charge that the woman depicted looked like a prostitute, Dunston dismissed the reaction as “ridiculous”. “There are people being offended by everything all the time,” he says, adding that the authorities’ response to the public complaint had been “knee-jerk”.
related: Debate on samsui woman mural heats up with Yip Yew Chong, Aware weighing in – and memes galore
The Samsui Woman Kerfuffle Shows Some Complaints Aren’t Worth Listening To
Over the weekend, a woman and her cigarette became the subject of debate. A mural on a Chinatown shophouse featuring a youthful jade-bangled samsui woman, perched on a wooden chair, toting a cigarette, recently caught the attention of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) as it apparently ran counter to the Singapore government’s anti-smoking policies. This was despite the fact that samsui women, who mainly worked as construction labourers, frequently smoked—one of the few respites in their famously frugal lives.
URA told the landlord to erase the cigarette in the mural and public outcry predictably ensued, The Straits Times reported on June 21. The Singapore-based American artist who’d painted the mural, Sean Dunston, also alleged that URA, in their feedback to the landlord, had cited a comment from an unnamed member of the public which called the mural “offensive” and said the woman “looks more like a prostitute than a hard-working samsui woman”. URA then ignominiously walked back on its decision, saying it would review its stance after taking into account the additional feedback. While it deliberates, the mural and her cigarette get to stay. Even as it has yet to reach its conclusion, this debacle has raised questions about our knee-jerk response to complaints. What do we lose when the loudest voices find offence in the innocuous? Not liking the artwork isn’t the problem here. The bigger issue is the entitlement of trying to get something taken down simply because you didn’t like it.
As more people caught wind of the mural, it became clear that—as with any artwork—it had its fans and detractors. It wasn’t just the cigarette that some people found objectionable. It was apparently the samsui woman’s gaze and the upturned grasp of her cigarette. She was holding it in “a glamorous way”, AWARE Singapore claimed when they weighed in on the topic on social media. The women’s rights advocacy group said the portrayal might perpetuate the male gaze. Likening the woman in the mural to a prostitute—and using the word as an insult—is an extremely damaging take, AWARE Singapore added. Indeed, it’s ironic that the unnamed member of the public, in calling for more respect to be shown to our samsui women, managed to disrespect sex workers and perpetuate misogyny in one fell swoop. At the same time, other members of the public saw no issue with the mural, even sharing photos of actual samsui women to prove its historical accuracy.
Singapore Street Art Mural Censorship Sparks Controversy and Public Debate Over Order to Remove Cigarette
A recent government order targeting a mural in Singapore’s Chinatown has ignited a debate over censorship in street art. The mural, created by Singapore-based multidisciplinary artist Sean Dunston, depicts a young Samsui woman holding a lit cigarette. This image references the Chinese women who immigrated to Singapore in the 1920s and 1940s to work in industrial jobs. Completed in April, the mural has since become a focal point of controversy.
On May 8, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) informed the landlord of the building featuring the mural that the artwork “was not aligned with Singapore’s anti-smoking policy stance.” This initial communication was followed by an email on June 18, which included a complaint from an unnamed member of the public. The complaint described the mural as “offensive,” suggesting that the depicted woman looked “more like a prostitute than a hard-working samsui woman.” The URA has requested a revised version of the artwork by July 3, warning that non-compliance could affect the renewal of the building’s temporary restaurant permit, set to expire on July 27. News of the URA’s demands was first reported by the Straits Times, leading to widespread public and media attention.
Sean Dunston, an American citizen residing in Singapore since 2009, responded to the URA’s emails and the public criticism through an Instagram post on June 19. In his post, Dunston defended his artistic choices and addressed the public’s concerns directly. “To the member of the public that leveled this criticism,” Dunston wrote, “I’d like to say that sex workers are very hard working people and should be treated with as much respect as anyone else. You should ask your Mom about it. Also, if I offended you with this depiction of a Samsui woman, trying to enjoy herself for 2 little minutes between grind after grind, then I couldn’t be more pleased about it. You’re literally my target demographic.” Dunston explained that his intention was to depict the Samsui woman as young rather than old, capturing a moment of respite rather than labor. He described the URA’s order as “suppressing the potential of Singapore’s art” and “a bummer.”
Censorship fears as Singapore moves to scrub ‘offensive’ cigarette from Chinatown mural
Artwork depicts a historic Samsui woman holding a smoking cigarette, authorities say it sends ‘wrong message’
An order by the Singapore authorities to erase a cigarette from a Chinatown mural has sparked an online controversy about street art censorship. The mural, which depicted a young Samsui woman holding a smoking cigarette, was completed in early April, according to The Straits Times of Singapore. The city state’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) told the landlord in an e-mail dated May 8 that the mural is “not aligned with Singapore’s anti-smoking policy stance”.
In a subsequent email on June 18, the URA also cited anonymous public feedback that the woman depicted “looks more like a prostitute” and was “offensive”. URA issued a July 3 deadline for a new proposal and warned of the potential loss of the temporary permit of the restaurant operating there, which expires on July 27. The artist who created the mural, Sean Dunston, a 50-year-old American based in Singapore since 2009, shared the incident on Instagram. He suggested drawing over the cigarette with a kitten, a taco or an opium pipe. However, many people have been critical of the URA’s decision, saying the cigarette in the mural is historically accurate and serves as a recognition of Samsui women’s labour and lives. “Why are we trying to change history?” said one online observer.
The term Samsui women, also known as “red headscarf women” in Chinese, refers to a group of Chinese females who immigrated to Singapore between the 1920s and 1940s for industrial jobs. They hailed mostly from the Sanshui district of Guangdong, a province in southern China. It is well-documented that the women smoked cigarettes as a form of recreation after their hard labour and even stored cigarettes under their trademark red headgear. The women primarily resided in the area where the mural is now located.
URA order to erase cigarette from 'offensive' mural of samsui woman sparks online debate
The URA told the landlord that the mural is 'not aligned with Singapore's anti-smoking policy stance'
An order by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to erase a cigarette from a Chinatown mural has sparked discussion online about public complaints and the censorship of street art.
The mural, which depicts a young samsui woman holding a smoking cigarette, was completed in early April on the exterior of 297 South Bridge Road. The URA subsequently told the landlord in an e-mail dated May 8 that the mural is "not aligned with Singapore's anti-smoking policy stance", according to a spokesperson from Shepherd Asset Management, who represents the landlord. In a later e-mail seen by The Straits Times dated June 18, the URA also cited feedback from an unnamed member of the public that the woman depicted "looks more like a prostitute than a hard-working samsui woman" and was "offensive".
The URA in the e-mail requested a "revised proposal" by July 3, and a failure to do so "will be taken into consideration for any application for the renewal" of the building's temporary permit for the restaurant. The said restaurant is Ya Kun Kaya Toast, whose Temporary Permission expires on July 27.
Women's group AWARE, artist Yip Yew Chong weigh in on debate
Mural by artist Sean Dunston in Chinatown, Singapore, featuring the image of a smoking samsui woman
Women's rights group AWARE and famed mural artist Yip Yew Chong have weighed in on the debate surrounding a Chinatown mural featuring a smoking samsui woman.
This comes after the mural's artist Sean Dunston took to Instagram to reveal that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) had asked him to erase the cigarette from the artwork. He added that the agency said it had received feedback from a member of public who claimed that the mural was "offensive and disrespectful" to samsui women. According to the member of public, "the woman depicted in this mural looks more like a prostitute than a hardworking samsui woman.”
After Dunston's post went viral, URA announced on Jun 22 that it was "re-evaluating its position" due to public feedback. In an Instagram post on Jun 23, artist Yip Yew Chong said he believed that Dunston's work was not offensive, neither was it promoting smoking. In his post, Yip wrote: "In reality, samsui women indeed smoked a lot and had many personalities, being human. It is not impossible for a young, freshly migrated samsui woman to smoke and sit like that. We cannot be too stereotypical and expect certain occupations must have only a specific look and no others." "Art's intention is a much wider than to document actual history or beautify a place. It is primarily intended to draw emotions, thoughts and conversations."
related: URA to re-evaluate stance over Chinatown mural featuring smoking samsui woman after public feedback
Artist suggests replacing cigarette with cat, taco or opium pipe in samsui woman mural after complaint
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has asked the artist behind a controversial mural of a cigarette-holding samsui woman to delay any changes to his work while the authority reviews its stance on amending the mural.
On June 21, The Straits Times (ST) reported the online outcry over URA’s order to erase a smoking cigarette from the mural, located at 297 South Bridge Road, opposite Maxwell MRT station. The URA also cited an anonymous complainant who compared the depicted woman to a “prostitute” and called the mural “offensive”.
Singapore-based American artist Sean Dunston was scrambling to modify his work as the URA issued a July 3 deadline for a new proposal and cited the potential loss of the temporary permit of the business operating there, Ya Kun Kaya Toast, which expires on July 27. On Instagram, Dunston had then suggested drawing over the cigarette with a kitten, a taco or an opium pipe.
Netizens get creative after URA requests removal of cigarette in mural of smoking samsui woman
On Wednesday (19 June), an artist took to Instagram to share that his mural of a samsui woman smoking had been reported to the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).
A member of the public claimed that the mural was “offensive” and “disrespectful” to samsui women. Painted on the side of a building, the woman had a cigarette in her hand. The artist was then asked to remove the cigarette by 3 July.
In light of this, suggestions have flown in from netizens on what he could replace it with — such as money or the letter from URA itself. The artist behind the mural — Singapore-based Sean Dunston — shared an excerpt of the letter from URA on Instagram.
related: AWARE S’pore says samsui woman mural may perpetuate ‘male gaze that exoticises female subjects’
Artist who painted samsui woman mural in Chinatown won't make changes for now
Good news for those who want to take photos of the three-storey tall mural in Chinatown featuring a samsui woman with a lit cigarette. The artist, Sean P Dunston, 50, said he will not be making changes to it just yet.
This decision comes after the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) said in a late night statement on Friday, Jun. 21 that it is "re-evaluating its stance on the mural" following "recent public feedback". The mural is painted on the exterior of a conserved shophouse at 297 South Bridge Road.
In response to queries from Mothership, Dunston, who has been based in Singapore since 2009, explained the current state of limbo the mural is in: "They haven’t said that it can remain as is, but they asked us to hold off on work for now. Hopefully they’ll let us keep it as it is."
Unearthed archival photo shows Samsui woman smoking, netizens joke that it should be censored
Amid the outcry over a mural in Chinatown that shows a samsui woman smoking, an archival photo has been uncovered that shows a samsui woman doing just that. Taken in the 1930s, the photo depicts a youthful-looking samsui woman with a cigarette in hand, taking a break with four colleagues. The photo prompted netizens to joke it should be censored.
The photo of the samsui women was posted by the National Heritage Board on its website Roots.gov.sg, which showcases Singapore’s culture and history. Titled “‘Samsui’ women working at a construction yard”, it was taken between 1938 and 1939 by an air force pilot who served in Singapore.
The samsui woman sitting in the middle, who looks a bit younger than the others, appears to be holding a cigarette in her left hand. Her colleague on her right also looks to be holding a cigarette in her right hand. Another photo from the same series shows another young samsui woman smiling and looking at the camera.
The Samsui women who built a city 三水妇女 or 紅頭巾
Woo Yan San, one of the few remaining Samsui women - a group of Chinese immigrants who helped to build Singapore
Many of us might have never seen a samsui woman in the flesh, but these ladies were once the backbone of our developing infrastructure, just like the transient workers who build our country today.
The first wave of Chinese immigrants who arrived in Singapore in search of a new life were largely male.
Over the years, the sex ratio in Singapore became overwhelmingly skewed towards males, such that by 1928, the colonial government introduced immigration controls to limit the number of male Chinese immigrants into Singapore.
The first wave of Chinese immigrants who arrived in Singapore in search of a new life were largely male.
Over the years, the sex ratio in Singapore became overwhelmingly skewed towards males, such that by 1928, the colonial government introduced immigration controls to limit the number of male Chinese immigrants into Singapore.
