About the CPD Talk

Singapore’s oldest Teochew temple, Wak Hai Cheng Bio underwent restoration works from 2010 to 2014. The speaker, Dr. Kang Shua Yeo, led the restoration work and published two books on the temple, i.e. 《粵海清廟：建築與歷史的對話》and Divine Custody: A History of Singapore’s Oldest Teochew Temple. Despite the absence of written sources and/or inscriptions to commemorate the founding of the temple, Kang Shua’s research in the history of land tenure of Singapore and old maps and title deeds provide new evidence for the temple’s foundation. Careful “reading” of the material culture (physical fabric) also guided the restoration works.

In this talk, Kang Shua will present an overview of the Wak Hai Cheng Bio conservation project, highlighting specific issues with restoration/conservation of a plaster ornamentation with fresco painting – conservation ideals vs devotees and owners’ expectation.

(Photo Source: Asia Conserved IV, UNESCO)

About the Speaker

Kang Shua is an Associate Professor and Associate Head of Pillar (Research/Practice/Industry) at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. Burrowing in darkened archive rooms, consulting books in libraries, directing architectural conservation work on sites and, more recently, conducting analysis in laboratories are an extension of his life. Trained as an architect and architectural historian, his research interest is primarily in the area of architectural conservation. Kang Shua has been involved in the restoration of some of Singapore’s religious and institutional buildings and awarded the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation in 2010 and 2014 for the effort.