Exploring Duxton: Art, Culture, and Unexpected Surprises

I usually go out in the late afternoon to explore a place or take a stroll, avoiding the harsh afternoon sun and aiming to catch the blue hour light. However, due to the unpredictable weather, I decided to change my timing today—and I’m glad I did. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have accomplished everything I managed to today.

Earlier, I visited Duxton Plain Park to check out the art display created by Space Objekt and catch a glimpse of the cool work they’ve done there.

I took the bus and got off at the stop near The Pinnacle@Duxton.

It’s one of the most remarkable buildings in the city, admired even from a distance. I’ve always wanted to see this building up close to truly appreciate its scale. It’s said to be the tallest public housing development in the city, standing at 50 stories high and featuring seven towers connected by a 500-meter-long skybridge.

I could go on about this incredible structure, but for this post, I’ll focus on my experience finding Space Objekt’s artwork and exploring the Duxton area.

I didn’t check the map, but I had a feeling I was already near Duxton Plain Park, the location of the art display. So, I decided to trust my instincts, and thankfully, they led me to the right spot.

Here’s the park. While it may not be as impressive as the city’s major parks, it’s still a lovely green space, especially considering its location in such a busy part of the city.

Interestingly, there’s a sundial display at the entrance. I remember learning about sundials back in school, but I didn’t really pay much attention to them at the time. I do know they were incredibly useful in ancient times before the invention of clocks, so I guess it’s still worth learning about them even today.

After learning a bit about the sundial, I decided to head toward the display area. I knew I was on the right path when I saw spheres in dichroic colors, almost as if they were guiding me to the artwork.

Even though this part of the city has a youthful vibe, I was quite surprised to see that some families find it a good place to live. While it’s undoubtedly one of the nicest areas in the city, I can’t see myself living here—the high cost and busy atmosphere just aren’t for me. That said, I do enjoy visiting places like this occasionally to check out things like art displays, just as I’m doing today.

Aside from the Space Objekt art display, I also noticed some permanent street art along the way. One piece caught my eye—it looked like a large-scale representation of organic matter, perhaps?

The park isn’t actually very large; it’s just a narrow strip separating The Pinnacle from the nearby commercial establishments. After spending a few minutes admiring the street art, I continued walking toward the artwork I had come to see. And finally, I found it!

Space Objekt, a Singapore-based creative design studio co-founded by Tina Fung and Ash Razaque, transforms spaces through innovative design and art installations for international brands and events.

This artwork is called {STILL} Life.

After getting immersed in the beautiful dichroic artwork, I decided to explore other areas around Duxton since I rarely come here to hang out. I came across a nearby space called Vanda Miss Joaquim Park, which I found to be one of the more interesting parks in the heart of the city. There were hens roaming freely around the park, and they were so friendly, coexisting with both the city and everyone in it.

Across from the park is the Poh Toh Si Temple (Poo Thor Jee Temple), which I also visited. I felt incredibly lucky because, at the time of my visit, there was a combined lion and dragon dance performance. It was a remarkable event to witness, as I usually only see performances like this during Chinese New Year. I guess I was just fortunate to experience it today.

After watching the lion and dragon dance, I decided to head home as the weather was turning grey overhead.

It was a truly enjoyable day exploring Duxton and discovering the vibrant art and culture in the area. From the captivating dichroic artwork to the unexpected lion and dragon dance performance, I felt lucky to experience such unique moments. I look forward to visiting again and continuing to explore the hidden gems of this dynamic part of the city.