If you have a little time on your hands, why not expand your horizons and take a class? There are lots of really special ones here in Singapore that you might not be able to find back home. Here are six to get you started!
#1 Lotus Leaf Painting
Spend two-and-a-half hours lightly painting, sponging and dabbing lotus leaves, turning them into gorgeous works of art. The leaves are pasted onto boards and then painted to create the most unusual pieces of art. And don’t worry if you’re not that artistic! Some say the process is quite relaxing, even therapeutic! Change the palette colour and create and entirely different feeling work. It’s great fun and a super way to bond with family and friends while you create your masterpiece!
#2 Batik Painting
Admire all the beautiful batik prints? Why not design your own? Batik painting is an ancient method that uses hot wax to outline designs. and you can create your own or follow pre-made patterns. Then, you use a special type of ink to paint within the lines. The wax resists the dyes which is what helps create the beautiful patterns. While batik is an art practiced in several countries, it originated in Java influenced by a variety of cultures. In October 2009, UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. That’s a fancy way of saying batik is a very special art form from this part of the world which makes it even cooler to learn.
#3 Japanese Tea Ceremony
You don’t have to travel to Japan to learn how the Japanese elevate serving tea to a true art form. The ceremony is also called the “Way of Tea” and is more than just adding some boiling water to tea leaves. Rather, the Japanese do a very special preparation and presentation of matcha, green tea. In Japanese, the ceremony is called chadō and it is counted as one of the three classical Japanese arts of refinement, along with kōdō for incense appreciation, and kadō for flower arrangement. Come learn the ancient art yourself.
#4 Chinese Opera Makeup Class
Whether you’re a wannabe performer of Chinese Opera or simply an enthusiast of makeup, this introductory-level course is ideal. It’s like the ultimate fancy dress experience! Come learn the art of the Teochew opera in this hands-on makeup class from an artiste with more than three decades of experience. Master the patterns of stylised makeup that strives to represent the character the performer is playing.
#5 Papermaking
If you like getting your hands wet then learning the multi-step process of papermaking is for you. You’ll magically transform pulp into paper in this hands-on class. It’s a little like what you might have done as a kid, but on a much, much larger basis. It’s really cool to see how something that starts off as cotton or mulberry fibers can become a beautiful piece of paper, made with your own hands.
#6 Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle
Throw a pot at Singapore’s oldest surviving dragon kiln; it’s the real deal, folks! Choose from hand-building or a pottery wheel and create your masterpiece which will then need to be baked in the old-fashioned dragon kiln. This is a great class no matter your age and can even be done with a big group of friends or students. Not only can you make pottery there, but you can also shop for some great bargains on beautiful Asian pottery.
See more in our Things to Do section:
35 fun things to do in Singapore
Dog-friendly things to do in Singapore
This article first appeared in the October 2018 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase a copy or subscribe so you never miss an issue!
