We’re thrilled to introduce you to one of City Square Mall’s hidden gems — Krafers’ Paradise (#04-19/20/21), a vibrant shop that offers a wide range of crafting supplies such as paints, brushes and specialised tool kits for scrapbooking, knitting and more.
Krafers’ Paradise stands out as Singapore’s only art store offering over 400 colours of graffiti spray paint, making it a go-to spot for graffiti artists, muralists, bike painters, and crafters. This wide selection ensures artists can find the perfect colours to express their vision and experiment with new mediums.
Local graffiti artist Wady (@bonykreativez), has partnered with Krafers’ Paradise to sell his self-published book about Singapore’s graffiti culture. Titled ‘Graffiti 101 – Your Starter Guide to Letter Stylin’ Vol 1’, the book contains the history of the graffiti scene in Singapore as well as some tutorials on basic letter styling. It is also the first and only graffiti guide book published by a Singaporean. The book is exclusively available at Krafers’ Paradise and to date, Wady has sold about 200 copies.
By partnering with local artists like Wady, Krafers’ Paradise aims to help artists showcase their work to the public, giving them visibility and exposure. While at the same time, supporting and nurturing the local art community, which City Square Mall is proud to be involved in.
Their “KRP Stickies” programme transforms local graffiti artists’ artwork into collectible stickers, spotlighting street art and engaging customers in a fun way. Upcoming events include a mid-October workshop with Old Holland Paints and a November showcase of their intern’s residency project.
At Krafers’ Paradise, community involvement is at the heart of everything they do. Store managers Nicole and Islam, both NAFA graduates and practising artists, blend their artistic backgrounds with their retail roles. Nicole, who specialises in performance art, shares, “Experimenting with materials at work keeps me connected to my artistic roots.” Islam adds, “We get to make sample artworks out of different materials which is cool and something most artists dream of doing”.
The store also supports young artists through initiatives like its Mini-Residency programme, for students who are currently pursuing their diploma. Part of this programme entails sponsoring materials for students to experiment with and providing mentorship from professional artists.
In February 2024, they extended discounts and guidance to UrbanSketch+, a youth group from ComLink+ Jurong West, helping them launch a programme at Boon Lay CC and build their portfolios through exhibitions and booths.
By supporting initiatives like this, Krafers’ Paradise at City Square Mall has created an environment that embraces community spirit and local talent, inviting shoppers to connect with the local art scene of Singapore. For Wady and other graffiti enthusiasts, this partnership marks a significant step in validating and celebrating street art, encouraging more spaces for creativity and helping the local graffiti community thrive.
