Burnt bamboo chopsticks were used in this project as an alternative to using paint for the mural. 15,000 bamboo chopsticks were glued, torched, then layered again and burnt a few more times to create depth and dimension to the piece.This piece depicts the story of the Merlion – a mythical creature with the head of a lion and body of a fish, and its significance as Singapore’s national icon.The Merlion is seen smiling as it is looking forward to the the future with enthusiasm and hope.