THE MAKING OF HERITAGE: FANNING THE FLAMES OF SINGAPORE’S OLDEST DRAGON KILN

Abstract

This thesis examines heritage and heritage-making in Singapore through Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle, a ceramics wonderland that is owned and managed by the Tan family. Hidden in the far west of Singapore, it is a remnant of Singapore’s bygone ceramics industry and home to a dragon kiln, one of only two in left in Singapore. In an attempt to raise awareness and appreciation for TKPJ’s heritage, this thesis will first highlight its heritage value through its history, such as its origin and position within the ceramics industry as a ceramics factory. Moving on, the Authorized Heritage Discourse and Heritage From Below as theorised by Laurajane Smith and Ian Robertson will be engaged to examine how various stakeholders like the state and Tan family have heritagized TKPJ over various scales and the challenges and limitations they face. While the Tan family’s heritagization practices seem to counter the state’s lack of heritagizing TKPJ, TKPJ will continue to face many challenges as heritage. This may be attributed to TKPJ’s dual identity as a business and heritage, its secluded location and the public lack of interest in its heritage. As these challenges may remain even if the state is to step up on its heritagization of TKPJ, the future of TKPJ as a heritage remains uncertain.