Re-purposing and Thematizing Colonial Gardens: Constructions of History and Nation in Singapore’s Heritage Parks

Abstract

To re-position the island as a touristic attraction, the 'Open Space Concept Plan' re-packages the civic district as an historical and cultural site. In the wake of a global promotion of public art as a mean to rejuvenate cities, parks are thematised with symbolisms that urge the preservation of ‘Asian’ and ‘traditional’ values and the maintenance of ‘local’ cultural identity and heritage, erected against ‘westernization’. In-between tourism-attracting device and cultural enrichment scheme—and spurring a debate on ‘inauthenticity’ of place and ‘falsification’ of history and identity—parks participate to the making of a place image. Such image is conceived as a product fashioned from the perceived needs and interests of tourists as well the local peculiarities of site—and parks are characterized with design-features that portray ‘shared values’ that would bind Singaporeans together and provide directions and cultural identity.