The unmistakable Merlion stands as a proud symbol of Singapore. A mythically based creature with the body of a fish and the head of a lion, the Merlion is an icon of the city-state. In fact there are no less than five genuine Merlions in the city, with the best known of these being the 8 metre figure sculpted by Lim Nang Seng and designed by renowned artist Kwan Sai Kheong. This statue was first officially unveiled in 1972 and now stands in Merlion Park, near the waterfront of Marina Bay. The figure is featured prominently in the locally produced tourist souvenirs.
The figure was first envisaged by the Van Kleef Aquarium’s curator Fraser Brunner for the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). It was subsequently registered as an official trademark of the STB securing the rights to employ the symbol.
The elements of the Merlion have direct significance with the culture of the city. The lion alludes to the well known story which narrates that Sang Nila Utama, a Malay king saw a creature which he thought was a lion when he first set foot on the island. He therefore renamed the locality ‘Singa pura’, or lion city.
On the other hand the fish represented in the statue signifies the status of Singapore as a port city and its emphasis on maritime trading activities. These activities were particularly important in the past, when the settlement was known as Temasek.
Of the two statues at Merlion Park, the larger stands 8 m tall and weighs 70 tonnes. It is designed to spout sea water from its mouth, as seen on innumerable photographs and souvenirs. Meanwhile the smaller figure, affectionately known as the ‘Merlion cub’, weighs 3 tonnes and stands 2 m tall.
Not to be missed is the immense 37 m replica of the Merlion to be seen in Sentosa. This 11 storey creation is constructed on a hillock and features an upper observation deck which provides panoramic views over the city. The structure is embellished with 16,000 lights whilst the statue’s eyes are fitted with equipment which enables them to emit multi-hued laser beams.
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