Changi Murals, Biblical wall paintings in Changi Camp, Singapore
The Changi Murals are five large religious wall paintings located in Block 151 at Changi Camp in Singapore, depicting biblical scenes such as the Nativity, the Crucifixion, the Ascension, and the Last Supper. Because the originals sit inside a restricted military area, faithful replicas have been made and are on permanent display at the Changi Chapel and Museum.
Stanley Warren, a British bombardier, painted the five works between August and December 1942 while held as a prisoner of war at Changi Camp during Japan's occupation of Singapore. After the war, he returned to Singapore several times to restore the paintings, which had deteriorated over the years.
The replicas at the Changi Chapel and Museum are displayed alongside personal objects and stories from former prisoners, giving visitors a sense of daily life in the camp. The biblical scenes painted on the walls were meant to bring comfort to the men held there, and that intention still comes through when you stand in front of them.
The original paintings are inside an active military base and cannot be visited by the public, so the Changi Chapel and Museum is the practical place to go. Allow extra time to take in the surrounding exhibits, which help explain the story behind the works.
Warren painted while suffering from severe malnutrition and was barely able to stand, yet he continued working. He did not initially identify himself as the artist, and it took years before his name was connected to the works.
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