The Merlion Singapore

Merlion
There are five Merlions recognized in Singapore.
1. The first carving at Merlion Park
2. The two-metre high novice statue position rear end the original statue
3. The 37-meter high big model with Mouth Gallery Viewing Deck on the 9th level, another seeing gallery on its head and The Merlion Shop at Sentosa Island
4. The three-meter high covered poly marble at Tourism Court completed in 1995.
5. The three-meter high poly marble statue sat on Mount Faber's Faber Point.
The First Statue
On 15 September 1972, the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew announced officially the installation formality of the Merlion statue. The original Merlion statue used to endure at the mouth of the Singapore River, at the spot of the present The Fullerton Waterboat House Garden with Anderson Bridge as its background.
It was imagined by the vice-chancellor of the University of Singapore Kwan Sai Kheong. Constructed from November 1971 to August 1972 by the late Singapore master, Mr. Lim Nang Seng, it measures 8.6 meters high and weighs 40 tonnes. Its body is made of cement, skin from porcelain plates and eyes from small red teacups. The project cost about S$165,000.
The statue spray's water out of its mouth into the river in a steady arch until its water pump breakdown in 1998.
Relocation of the first statue
The Merlion and the Esplanade at a night-time.
The finalization of the Esplanade Bridge, in 1997, obstructed the views of the Merlion from the Marina Bay waterfront. After that, the first Merlion location was also no longer the doorway of Singapore River. So, in 2002, the statue and its apprentice were resettled 120 meters to the present Merlion Park that faces Marina Bay where it endures on a newly-spot headland in front of The Fullerton Hotel.
Another way out contemplated, to bring up the Merlion on a platform at its first location was considered inappropriate as the view would still be obstructed by the bridge. Other possible resettlement sites considered included Nicoll Highway Extension Bridge, Esplanade Park, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, a headland at Marina Centre, a headland site at Bayfront and Kim Seng Park. Notwithstanding, all were either inappropriate or not technically workable.
The first action of relocation began on 23 April 2002 and finished on April 25. The whole statue was lifted onto the flatboat, which then sailed to the new installation site at the current Merlion Park, near the mouth of Singapore River. During the journey, the statue had to be lifted from the flatboat, over the Esplanade Bridge and then back onto the flatboat, as it was too high to pass underneath.
Thirty years after it was formally set afloat, the Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew came back on 15 September 2002 to ceremonially welcome the Merlion once again, this time in its new property. A seeing deck now spreads over the Singapore River, permitting visitors to place for a photo with a face or side view of the Merlion, including a new city horizon background in the picture. The statue was associated to face East, a direction advised to be most suitable. It resettled, the statue once more sprayed water from its mouth, having stopped in its old location since 1998 due to a water pump breakdown. The Merlion now has a new two unit water pump system with items working alternately, so a partner is always on standby. The relocation and new site cost S$7.5 million.
Conservation of the original statue
From 5 June until 10 July 2006, the Merlion at Merlion Park submitted to conservation. The last one was right after its relocation. Dirt and spots were removed using high-pressure water streams, and various wears and tears of the statue were renovated.
Throughout that time, visitors were greeted with the demonstrated billboard and canvasses layers the safety snares and scaffolding. The pictures were designed by Miel, an award-winning senior artist at The Straits Times. The picture on the canvasses made them look like brief rainfall curtains, with the Merlion fastening its head out with the shadow of its tail behind the curtain. The picture on the billboard showed the Merlion scrub himself with a brush and showering using a Merlion shower head spraying water.
The Merlion on Sentosa was designed and carved by an Australian Artist named James Martin. It is made of Glass Reinforced Cement (GRC) over a steel armature that is attached to the central lift centre.
Other Merlion statues
Due to the effect of abroad Singaporeans, Singapore investors and mates of the country, diversities of the Merlion statue can be found in Japan and China.
Merlion harm by lightning
On Saturday, February 28, 2009 at about 4.26 pm the Merlion in the Merlion Park was hit by lightning. A breaking news from 938LIVE local radio showed an image with pieces from the Merlion's head on the ground. Inspection of the damage was done quickly with wooden scaffolding set up on Sunday, March 1, 2009 for workers to get a closer look at the hole. The event happened pursuant to the lack of lightning protection on the Merlion itself.
Merlion souvenirs
A wide kind of Merlion souvenirs is sold at tourist areas in Singapore. Some type of Merlion souvenirs included:
- Display model, with smaller ones doubling up as paperweights
- Soft toys
- Mini soft toy keychains or mobile phone magnetisms
- Refrigerator magnets
- Picture frames