Tingkat Painting

Participating in a Tingkat painting workshop was an enriching and nostalgic experience for me. Tingkat painting involves decorating traditional multi-tiered food carriers, often used in Peranakan culture, with beautiful and meaningful artwork such as hibiscus flowers and Peranakan houses. The session I attended provided pre-drawn outlines, which helped ease the pressure especially since I wasn’t very confident whether I had done Tingkat painting before. I chose to paint the hibiscus on one side and the Peranakan house on the other. Despite the time limits, which can certainly raise the tension when trying to get everything perfect, I found the process quite engaging and fun. Initially, I struggled with the house painting—it kept getting worse the more I tried to fix it, so I had to accept imperfections, which is part of the creative journey. On the other hand, the hibiscus turned out much better than I expected, particularly after adding tiny white dots that brought the flower to life. One tip I picked up was to work carefully on small details and allow each layer to dry before adding another to prevent smudging. Also, applying a protective layer at the end ensures the painting stays vibrant and safe for display. Looking around the workshop, spotting other participants’ work and some games and food that brought back school days memories, made the experience even more enjoyable. If you’re interested in traditional Southeast Asian art or want to try your hand at Tingkat painting, I highly recommend attending a workshop. It’s a great way to connect with cultural heritage while expressing your creativity in a supportive environment. Plus, you get to take home a personalized piece of art that tells a story!