Second Generation Artists - Their Story

“Second Generation Artists – Their story” is an exhibition dedicated to highlight a collection of paintings created by a group of Singaporean artists who were born between the 1920s and 1940s. More than 50 oil paintings that date from 1958 to 2021 would be on display. Visitors are welcome to experience the charms of vanished villages or and feel the energy of Chinatown and Singapore River from the early days. Beyond illustrations of Singapore, some of these paintings also communicate the artists’ interests in travelling. Guests are invited to “follow the footsteps” of the artists and “visit” places such as Bali, Nepal and China.

Paintings from exhibition

Videos

“I have always been very interested in painting the dancers from Bali Island. Thus, in these ten to twenty years, I have painted quite a few paintings on Bali Island, including people, female dancers and portraits. What makes Bali unique is the bright clothing which embodies the colours of the local culture. This made many Singaporean artists interested in Bali and travel to Bali for holiday, sketching and painting. It is easier to paint sceneries as sceneries have no forms. They are well done when the colour expression is good. For portraits, more focus has to be placed on the structure, sketching, expressions, posture and colours. Thus, it is more difficult to paint figures and portraits as compared to sceneries.”  

Koeh Sia Yong

“I am Eng Siak Loy and I am 82 years old this year. I am a professional artist and get excited when speaking about Nepal. Five years ago, I went to Nepal with some friends from the art society and painted the Kathmandu Capital of Nepal. There are pigeons outside the temple where the locals go for prayers. When you walk across, the pigeons will start flying and this forms a very special composition, symbolic of kindness and a peace loving country for the tourists and locals.”

Eng Siak Loy

Event Photos

第二代油画家-他们的故事

命名为《第二代油画家-他们的故事》的画展主要展出从1920年代至1940年代之间出生的本地画家的油画作品。画廊将展出这些资深画家从1958至2021年所完成的画作。我们欢迎艺术爱好者来感受在本地已消失的甘榜的淳朴与美丽，早期牛车水与新加坡河的热闹氛围。展出的部分画作也体现了画家们热爱旅游的心态。来参观的朋友们也能通过画作，随着画家的脚步欣赏巴厘岛、尼泊尔以及中国的美丽风光。

报章报道

paintings from exhibition

Videos

“Artist Eng Siak Loy was the winner of the 2007 Designer of the year award at the President Design Awards. He designed our portrait series of Singapore currency as well as 55 sets of stamps and 18 sets of coins throughout his career as a graphic designer. 

He is also an artist. In this early work dated in 2019 (on the left), you can see his love for florals and botanicals reflected here. There is a very spontaneous style he has here - very colourful, a little bit less controlled than his usual graphic design style that he applies to his stamps and currency, and I think this is very much a reflection of his own personality and creative flair where he let himself go, so there is a greater freedom of expression. The colours are very spontaneous and lively.

In contract to this floral bouquet here, over here is another piece of work in 2012 (on the right) that he did and what I like about this piece are the colours. It has a very subdued coloration and the palette reminds us of the past. It is like looking at things from another lens and I think this is also quite a departure from a lot of older artists who tend to paint the Singapore river, for instance. Also, his strokes have a kind of verticality and diagonals that he is very fond of and in a less obvious nuance of expression, so it again contributes to the whole retro vibe of this piece.”

Eddy Koh

“This artwork comes from a cohort of artists, whom have either been associated with or educated by the early teachers of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. These artists who learnt impressionist and post impressionist styles are important in the sense that they are the ones who have now established the mainstream of Singapore’s art thought and art style. Hence you know they have also become the bridge between the immigrant artists who came from China and now the artists who continue to produce this work in Singapore is a melting port between the east and the west. This style enables them to express eastern thoughts with western world view and how this is going to be evolved into an art that becomes Singapore’s art is something that is interesting for us to take note of.”

Dr Woo Fock Wah

paintings from exhibition

Event Photos

Videos

“These second generation senior artists are very serious and persistent towards painting. For instance, I am very familiar with Mr Koeh Sia Yong, whom to paint the Samsui women, specially went to the costume shop to make a Samsui women clothing. He wore the costume and got me to take a photograph. From there, he started to investigate and study how the body looks like when the Samsui women costume was put on. He then started creating. From this example, we can see that they are very persistent, serious and hardworking. I believe that this gives me great encouragement. The new generation of artists like us have a connection with the second generation of artists. We are familiar with them and they have a great influence on us. Their paintings are filled with Singapore’s unique ambience and characteristics. The colours that they use and emotions that they put in have affected me greatly.”

Zhu Hong

“When I first started painting as a young artist about 20 years ago, I would often visit galleries to study and look at artworks by senior artists such as Ang Ah Tee, Eng Siak Loy, Tan Choh Tee and Koeh Sia Yong just to name a few. I am truly impressed by the longevity of their art careers. Their commitment and perseverance have resulted in various changes to their personal styles. From the earlier nanyang styles to the current signature masterpieces, I think this is a very positive attitude that young artists of the next generation including myself should have to learn from and emulate.”

Marvin Chew

“Upon knowing about this art exhibition, I was actually very delighted. This is because the old painters that will be exhibited this time are actually senior artists who I am very familiar with and respect deeply. When I was still studying at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts 28 years ago, their art works have already deeply attracted me and influenced me. In fact, what actually moved me more is that after they have achieved their artistic success, they are still working tirelessly in their art careers and continue to cultivate their skills. Hence as the younger generation, these are all worthy points to learn from.”

Wang Fei

EVENT PHOTOS