A dragon has appeared in the heart of Chinatown, but instead of breathing fire, this one comes covered in dripping gelato toppings.
Gelato Messina has teamed up with Singaporean visual artist Tobyato to transform the side of its Club Street shophouse into a striking public artwork. Towering 10 metres above the street, the larger-than-life Gelato Dragon pays tribute to the history, architecture and cultural character of the surrounding neighbourhood.
Rendered in Tobyato’s distinctive bold and playful illustration style, the dragon winds its way through a colourful cityscape filled with familiar details from Chinatown, Club Street and Telok Ayer. It proudly holds a scoop of gelato above the streets below, while Messina’s signature toppings drip across the mural.
More than simply a colourful backdrop for photographs, the artwork is intended as a love letter to the neighbourhood that Messina now calls home.
A Playful Tribute to Chinatown
The Gelato Dragon draws inspiration from the ornate dragons perched on the roof of nearby Thian Hock Keng Temple, one of Singapore’s oldest and most historically significant Hokkien temples.
Look closely and visitors will also spot references to other recognisable landmarks, including the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Ee Hoe Hean Club and the historic shophouses that give the area its distinctive architectural character.
“This mural is a 10-metre playful homage to the neighbourhood,” said Tobyato. “Inspired by the iconic dragons that stand proudly atop Thian Hock Keng Temple, the Gelato Dragon swirls through familiar buildings and architectural landmarks, referencing the vibrant surroundings that stretch from Telok Ayer to Outram Park and beyond.”
Known for incorporating traditional Asian motifs into contemporary, energetic compositions, Tobyato has previously created murals and collaborations for names such as Nike, ASICS, G-SHOCK, Samsung, Levi’s, HUGO and Shake Shack. His works can also be found beyond Singapore in cities including Jakarta, Paris and Los Angeles.
For the Club Street mural, the artist has brought together heritage references and Messina’s irreverent personality, creating an artwork that feels rooted in the neighbourhood while remaining unmistakably fun.
Art Meets Gelato
The mural marks the first chapter of a wider creative collaboration between Messina and Tobyato, with more projects expected to be unveiled.
Supporting local artists and pursuing unexpected collaborations have long been part of Messina’s identity. The partnership with Tobyato takes the creativity usually found inside its gelato cabinets and brings it onto the street, turning the exterior of the Club Street store into a public canvas.
The collaboration also extended to Messina’s monthly rotating flavour series, The Scoop, which celebrates friendship, creativity and the joy of making and eating dessert.
A special flavour named Enter The Dragon was introduced from 13 July for a limited two-week run. The creation combined pandan coconut with dragon fruit gelato and passion fruit curd, translating the mural’s colourful dragon theme into edible form.
It was a suitably tropical combination for the collaboration, balancing the familiar fragrance of pandan and coconut with the vibrant fruitiness of dragon fruit and the tangy brightness of passion fruit.
A New Landmark on Club Street
Founded by Nick and Danny Palumbo, Gelato Messina takes its name from the Sicilian birthplace of their parents. Together with partner Declan Lee and head chef Donato Toce, the team developed the brand’s extensive collection of gelato recipes through years of experimentation with ingredients and flavour combinations. At its stores in Singapore and Hong Kong, customers can typically choose from a 40-flavour cabinet comprising 35 core flavours and five rotating specials.
The new mural adds another reason to visit the Club Street outlet. Its location also makes it an easy stop while exploring the surrounding heritage district, whether visitors are wandering through Chinatown, admiring the shophouses along Telok Ayer or visiting the nearby temples.
Messina’s Gelato Dragon mural is located beside its Club Street store in Singapore.
Messina
1 Club Street
Singapore 069400
