For thousands of years, we’ve questioned the meaning of life, death, and the afterlife. This year, Haw Par Villa aims to enlighten Singaporeans on the meaning of death and the dying culture surrounding it.
Haw Par Villa, formerly known as the Tiger Balm Garden, is an 8.5-hectare Asian cultural park that was built in 1937. It is the biggest outdoor art gallery in Singapore and is the last of its kind in the world. The brainchild of Aw Boon Haw, who also created the Tiger Balm ointment, Haw Par Villa is chock-full of art, culture, religion, and philosophy that you can experience whenever you visit.
Why Haw Par villa is different from other theme parks?
There is a lot to see at Haw Par Villa. Home to more than 1,000 statues and 150 dioramas, you can immerse yourself in Chinese folklore and the legendary works of Chinese literature like Madame White Snake, the Eight Immortals, and Journey to the West. The park also provides different tours for those looking to learn more about Chinese folklore, philosophy, and culture. You can also visit the Haw Par Villa at twilight to see dioramas depicting other legendary stories.
Brief history of Haw Par Villa
The villa, which reflected Aw Boon Haw’s passion for Chinese mythology and culture, was opened to the general public after it was built in 1937. Aw Boon Haw himself was hands-on in creating the fixtures, helping artisans along the way and ensuring that moral guidance was depicted every step of the way.
However, during the war, Aw Boon Haw’s family had to leave Singapore, and the park became an observation point for the Japanese army. It wasn’t until the war was over when Aw Boon Haw came back and started rebuilding and developing the park. For decades, the entire Aw family helped bring it back to life, adding dioramas and the International Corners, which tribute the different places that Aw Boon Haw visited through the years.
How Haw Par Villa is the one of the few theme parks that are truly worth visiting?
By 1985, the place started to look more like it does today – a look that has been maintained through the years. Haw Par Villa is therefore not just a smorgasbord of experiences of Chinese folklore and culture but also comes with a rich history that anyone is sure to appreciate.
As if that wasn’t enough, Haw Par Villa has recently opened Hell’s Museum, transforming the cultural theme park into a realm where death and the afterlife meet. This experiential exhibition hopes to educate guests with interesting and comparative insights on how people of different ages, religions, and cultures view death and the afterlife. Hell’s Museum also aims to help people understand how all of these concepts are connected.
Go on a journey through Hell to discover the hidden truths of death and the afterlife at Hell’s Museum and look forward to:
• A guided tour through Hell’s Museum
• A closer look at the history of death with a focus on Asian practices
• A stunning art installation – Beyond the Veil Art & Tech
• Exclusive insights from the Haw Par Villa and Hell’s Museum team on documenting the dying art of death in Asia
Haw Par Villa is located along Pasir Panjang Road and is easily accessible via public transportation and car. The MRT station is just a minute’s walk away from the park’s entrance, as well.
