With a plethora of colourful murals peppered in the city, it’s hard not to see Singapore in technicolour. Whether it’s located at the void decks of HDB flats or hidden in plain sight, street art has turned the nondescript corners of our little city into stunning works of art that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Taking it up a notch, artists such as Yip Yew Chong, Yuen Kum Cheong, Francis Theo, and Ernest Zacharevic, as well as art collective Mural Lingo, have combined fully functional accessories such as benches, tables, and even shopping trolleys with their murals –allowing you to interact with them and snap a creative photo for the ‘gram.

1. 222+51

Home to art schools, studios, and stores, the Bras Basah-Bugis district is a great start for some street art – even interactive ones. Make your way to the arts centre 222+51 – aka 222 Queen Street and 51 Waterloo Street – for kaleidoscopic walls decked with vintage doors that open to stunning visuals in the signature style of local artists Yip Yew Chong and Yuen Kum Cheong. These murals depict lost landmarks such as the old National Library, Odeon Cinema, and National Theatre.

Photograph: Tampines Town Council/Facebook

Have a throwback moment at Blk 478 Tampines Street 44 where you’ll find an interactive 3D heritage wall mural. Painted by Tampines resident and artist Francis Theo, it features a provision store, a barbershop, and a Peranakan house that are reminiscent of life in the 1960s. The art is brought to life with benches, tables, and stools which are fully functional too, making it an ace backdrop for a walk down memory lane with parents, and even grandparents.

3. Blk 351D Canberra Road

The creative crew – better known as Mural Lingo – recently gave the void deck of this Sembawang HDB flat a colourful makeover with the help of 40 residents as part of a community project with HDB Town Council. It was selected due to its location next to the playground and its high footfall. Keep your eyes peeled for four murals that celebrate the heritage of the neighbourhood such as the Sembawang Hot Spring and Sembawang Park. There are functional benches attached to the murals, as well as QR codes for all to learn more about Sembawang’s rich heritage too.

4. Blk 683C Woodlands Drive 62

Showcasing the different eras of Singapore’s development, mural artist Yip Yew Chong painted the bare walls of this Woodlands HDB flat in bright hues, splitting them into three different zones – the farmland and kampung zone, the modern and futuristic zone, and the nature zone. Not only do they make eye-catching backdrops, but they are also accompanied by floor decals of old-school games such as hopscotch and snake-and-ladder where the young and the young-at-heart can have a friendly go.

5. SAFRA Tampines

If you’re ever at SAFRA Tampines for a sweat sesh, make a pitstop at the entrance of the swimming pool, squash courts, and gym for another Mural Lingo masterpiece. The bright, attention-grabbing mural features a locker room that highlights all the activities that SAFRA offers such as swimming, badminton, bowling, and track. Be one with the art when you take a short rest on the bench by the wall. With the play on perspectives and intricate details, you’d be surprised to know that it only took the team five days to complete. Talk about commitment.

From the Banksy of Penang – aka Lithuania-born artist Ernest Zacharevic – comes an interactive mural along Victoria Street. Known for his trademark visuals of local children playing in the streets, this one features two children freewheeling in two halves of a real shopping trolley attached to the wall, reflecting those carefree salad days. Feel free to unleash your creativity, and strike a pose with the trolleys.