Cattleland Forever
Photograph of Cattleland 2, taken in 2021
The Little India precinct has undergone many changes; from early colonial settlements, to an industrious area that caters to the Indian community and a hotspot for culture and tourism. Through developments over the years, the historic aspects of this space often reappear in the visual landscape; from street names, to beautiful street art that depict and reimagines past scenes.
Encapsulating the area's history, Eunice Lim’s Cattleland (2015) and Cattleland 2 (2017) were two outdoor murals that were produced for Art Walk Little India. While the first had been painted over, the second continues to grace the wall of one of Little India’s conservation shophouses. We met Eunice virtually to reflect upon the impact of her murals and the futurity of her public art works.
Eunice’s artistic practice is concerned with narratives and human relationships. Inspired by the location, she shared that the series drew on Little India’s humble beginnings and through the work, she wanted to highlight the early foundations of the cattle trade.
Photograph of Cattleland (2015)
Image Credit: Little India Art Walk
It has since been 4 years since Cattleland had been painted and her larger-than-life displays have garnered a multitude of responses from passers-by, tourists, and the residents of Little India. Through the process of painting, she was able to receive reactions to her work. Elderly residents shared that the artwork was a great homage to the cattle of yesteryear that would graze the empty field facing the wall. Some were critical of the placement of the cows, as the human behaviour assigned to some of the cattle sparked some bewilderment over the culturally revered animal.
Eunice expressed the values of cattle were multiple and unquantifiable; in reference to cattle trading, she likened this industry to other things we may trade today, such as stocks.
“Cows were a token of commitment, cows were workers, cows provided and cows were traded. Now we trade things like stocks! (...) How our ideas of value have changed”
From past cattle tagging to the tree-mapping projects conducted locally, and even in the way we treat our pets, she additionally points out how we care for the things we value.
Eunice shares that she could never have known or experienced the past, through her process of working she tries to relate to the history of the place. Through literal representations of cattle, Cattleland reveals the values and beliefs of today through the perceptions of the artwork. As a reminder of the past, our relationships to cattle, from utility, property and to the divine, is ever-evolving.
We would like to thank Eunice Lim for sharing her process and experience with us. Cattleland 2 still remains up at Kerbau Road.
Screenshot of Eunice Lim during our conversation