Power-washing artist Marcus Pang began creating a pavement artwork outside Mountbatten MRT station on May 31, 2026, but was stopped by SMRT staff after a complaint, officials said [1, 2]. Pang explained the complaint claimed he was spraying chemicals on the grass, though he denied this, saying he used collected rainwater and that a gasoline smell from his pressure washer likely caused confusion [1, 2].
SMRT staff detained Pang because he did not have a permit to create the artwork, despite his assertion that no permit was required for his method [1, 2]. Police were called to the site, took Pang’s statement, and told him no wrongdoing had occurred. They allowed him to continue but recommended he seek a letter of endorsement from the local MP or a busking permit [1, 2].
When Pang returned the following day to complete the piece, he found SMRT staff had power-washed the pavement, effectively removing his artwork [1, 2]. The area outside Mountbatten MRT station is under SMRT’s control and not the town council’s, underscoring the company’s authority over the space [1, 2].
MP Gho Sze Kee publicly commented on June 7 about the issue, saying the incident raises important questions about balancing artistic creativity and free expression with the rules governing shared public spaces. Gho noted, "This incident stirs up larger questions for our society. There will always be tension between artistic creativity, free expression and the rules that hold our shared spaces together" [1, 2]. He added that multiple neighborhood jurisdictions intersect in such areas and current cooperation with authorities remains the best approach for artists [1, 2].
Pang shared his experience, stating, "Five hours in, I was stopped by the train station staff as someone had complained about me spraying chemicals onto the grass. Unfortunately, the staff detained me as I had no permit to do such artwork, which I replied I did not require one" [2].
Pang has posted about the incident on social media and the removal of his work, drawing wider attention to the challenges of artistic expression in regulated public spaces [1].
