First Generation

First Generation is a bronze sculpture depicting five boys captured mid-leap into the Singapore River, with fine detail in their motion and expression. The figures are positioned in an area accessible from Fullerton Road near the water's edge.

The sculpture was unveiled on December 31, 2000, as the first installation of the Open Air Interpretative Centre project by the Singapore Tourism Board. This opening marked the beginning of an art-based approach to documenting the city's past through public works.

The artwork shows how children of early settlers played and swam in the Singapore River as part of their daily lives. These young figures reflect a time when the river was a central gathering place for the community.

The sculpture is about three minutes on foot from Raffles Place MRT station and can be reached by multiple bus routes serving the area. The location sits along a busy pedestrian path with good visibility and regular foot traffic.

The bronze figures appear to float in mid-air, creating a visual effect that shifts depending on where you stand and look at them. This suspended quality gives the scene a timeless feeling, as if the moment of movement is frozen forever.

Creator: Chong Fah Cheong

GPS coordinates: 1.28653,103.85228

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:02