“Gateway of the New World Amusement Park” captures the vibrant everyday life outside the entrance of the amusement park. Established on August 1, 1923, by Straits Chinese brothers Ong Boon Tat and Ong Peng Hock, it was Singapore’s first major amusement park and a cornerstone of local entertainment for over six decades. Located in Jalan Besar, the park itself has been replaced by City Square Mall and other developments, the original arched gateway has been preserved and can be found at City Green, a public park near the main entrance of City Square Mall.

Kumar skillfully renders the intricate roof dragons and elaborate carvings with delicate washes and fine ink detailing, emphasizing both its cultural significance and architectural splendor. The composition is animated with local life—pedestrians in casual dress, a food vendor cart, and a cyclist moving through the frame—all rendered in soft, earthy tones.

Kumar’s fluid brushwork and sensitive attention to light and shadow breathe a nostalgic warmth into the scene, offering viewers a window into one of the three iconic “Worlds” amusement parks, alongside Great World and Happy World, bringing us back in time to the 1940s in Singapore.