Welcome to Our World
by Belinda Low
Title
Welcome to Our World
Artist
Belinda Low
Medium
Painting - Acrylic/emulsion On Wall
Description
FEATURED in :-
Created by My Hands
Balconies, Windows and Doors Group
Images That Excite You
Murals and WallArt including Graffiti
Location of mural : Behind Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, South Bridge Road, Singapore 058840
The entire view of her and her 'sisters'. The lane was inspired to show the kind of environment and spaces they used to live and rest from their labor. I hope to leave a lasting legacy for the old and young alike to know how important it is to preserve this heritage, and how much these hardy and resilient women had contributed to the building of our nation. Thank you for your visit.
The term Samsui women broadly refers to a group of Chinese immigrants who came to Singapore between the 1920s and the 1940s in search of construction and industrial jobs. Their hard work contributed to the country's development, both as a colony and as a nation.
About 200,000 Samsui women were believed to have come from China between 1934 and 1938, and this continued until 1949 when emigration from China was declared illegal.
The Samsui women came from Sanshui of Guangdong (Canton) Province in China, in addition to Shunde and Dongguan. Most Samsui women are Cantonese (90%) but there are Hakka (10%) as well.
In Chinese, these women are known to wear a red bandana -- the trademark red cloth hats that they wore.
Coming to Singapore as cheap labourers, Samsui women worked mainly in the construction industry and other industries that required hard labour. They also worked as domestic servants. They had a reputation of rejecting jobs involving drug (particularly opium) peddling, prostitution, or other vices, even if that meant they sometimes had to live in poverty. They made a lot of contribution to early development mostly by building houses and some of them worked at hawker centres mending the stalls there too.
Most Samsui women took vows never to marry, although there have been known exceptions. They lived in cramped conditions with other Samsui women, helping out each other and forming tightly united cliques.
Samsui women also remained in touch with their relatives back home in China, communicating with them frequently through letters. Occasionally, they would send money to them.
There are less than a hundred Samsui women left in Singapore today, all of them in their 80s and 90s. Organizations exist to raise awareness of these women's achievements and contributions to Singapore's development, and their current state. Some of these organizations also strive to provide free travel for the women back to China to visit their relatives before they die. One such organization was the Sam Shui Wai Kuan Association that took care of the needs of the Samsui Women. Photo Credit: Victor Boudioukine
Uploaded
April 2nd, 2015
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Viewed 1,571 Times - Last Visitor from Fairfield, CT on 03/28/2024 at 9:34 PM
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Comments (18)
AnnaJo Vahle
Wonderful painting, Belinda. Love the whole composition. f/l
Belinda Low replied:
Honored to hear from you. Thank you for your kind comments! Your work is awesome!
Belinda Low
A BIG THANK YOU! to David Neace for featuring her in his awesome group "Created by My Hands"! :D
Belinda Low
GRATEFUL THANKS to Maria Coulson for the feature in her wonderful "Balconies, Windows and Doors Group"! :-D
Maria Coulson
CONGRATULATIONS!! Your artwork has been Featured in the “Balconies, Windows and Doors Group” Thank you for sharing it.
Belinda Low
Very grateful to Kelly Awad for featuring this work on his awesome group Murals and Wallart including Graffiti! :-D
Tami Quigley
Amazing work Belinda, this is wonderful!! What a great talent you have! L/F
Belinda Low replied:
Hi Tami! Glad you liked this, and Thanks v much as always for your great support! :-D
Elena Yakubovich
Wonderful painting! Love the details!
Belinda Low replied:
Hello Elena! I am humbled with such a positive feedback coming from such a talented artist as you, dear. Your gallery is awesome! :-D
Bill OConnor
...outstanding Belinda; beautiful! l/f
Belinda Low replied:
Hello Bill, Wanna thank you for your visit and kind comment. Have a great weekend! :-D
Shirley Sirois
This is a very memorable painting to educate and to remind........L.
Belinda Low replied:
Dear Shirley~ It was indeed v memorable for me...I want and wish this will last for a long long time till after I am gone...:Thanks v much for your visit! :-D
Digital Designs
This is awesome Belinda! Great job.
Belinda Low replied:
Hello Scott Thank you for visiting and for your appreciation of this wall artwork!!! :-D
Kume Bryant
You do an amazing work, Belinda...the story of Samsui women... wow... such an amazing history. v f tw
Belinda Low replied:
Dear Kume, I am grateful that you appreciate this. It has been a v interesting journey for me these six months. I am not sure what to expect tomorrow but the media, ministers, pararazzi will be there...We are going to deliver daily staples in the form of goodie bags to the old residents tomorrow. I have just finished varnishing it today and look forward to the event! :-D
Lenore Senior
Wow! The expressive face is a powerful work! The piece as a whole is surrealistic and fascinating and intriguing! I love this and mixture with photography. Instant v/f and I could look at this for hours!
Belinda Low replied:
Dear Lenore, Thank you v much for your kind comments. I have been v busy preparing for the official launch these two weeks and so been deliquent in FAA. Appreciate your support and feedback on this work. :-D
Darrell MacIver
This is well done with the lady as the feature.
Belinda Low replied:
Hi Darrell - Thanks so much for appreciating this. You may read the history of this woman which I have added in the description. :-D
TN Fairey
Beautiful work Belinda! l/f
Belinda Low replied:
Thanks v much Tessa for your visit and support. I am rushing off for a trip now Tis the long weekend so will add the description when I return. :-D