The State of Art in Singapore

Singapore is probably one of Asia's most prominent destinations today. With a strikingly large population of foreigners and a wide range of dialects spoken, this small nation is the gateway to some of the world's most active trade industries, tourist attractions and cultural meccas. Singapore maintains a first-edge roster of both traditional and modern artists, spanning from end to end of their modest but evolving territory.

Among the most prominent of these artists is sculptor Han Sai Por. Widely recognized for her large, interpretative monuments, she has become somewhat of a cultural icon in the local communities. While many crafters pursue a speciality in a single medium of work, Han Sai Por does not limit her aesthetic sensibility to a singular mode of expression. Her glass composition- "Shimmering Pearl 1", a public fountain-laced sculpture at Capitol Tower has stood the test of time, to the delight of many public viewers. Despite the fragility often associated with glass, her work has been an icon in the area for over two decades now.





Some even more iconic sculptures have been set on permanent display at international hubs like the famously known Changi Airport. Her style is a mix of representational and expressive abstract genres, showing her changing tendencies and mannerisms of the past 50 years of her career. Han Sai Por is also one of the sculptors who's body of work currently inspires many of the younger generations to pursue a career in the field of fine arts.

Speaking of Singapore's maestros in art, another famous personality is Chong Fah Cheong, who has also contributed many of his large public works to better the landscape of the main city's bustling business and educational districts. A recipient of the cultural medallion (Singapore's highest accolade), Chong Fah Cheong has continuously showered the country with work-upon-work of his artistic style, throughout the decades.







His main themes seem to revolve around the pursuit of power, wealth and a general or initial definition of success. Many of these more understandable subjects are sometimes overlooked by artists who deem them to be shallow, but a true artist who perseveres across half a century of struggle knows the value of relating to his audience. Much of his portfolio reminds the Singaporean communities that hard work is what earns a good life, and that laziness is never going to win against discipline and good manners.

The younger generations of Singaporean artists also seem to inspire their peers with works that prod and move the standardized definitions of art and design. Joo Choon Lin's exploration of the relationship between appearance and essence has led to many of her aesthetic installations being exhibited in places like Hong Kong, Tokyo, Toronto, Stockholm, Copenhagen, and New York.



Fyerool Darma from the Lasalle College of the Arts, one of the country's pride and joys within the scope of education, has been a part of the Singaporean art scene for many years as well. Despite his young age, Darma's complex and expressive surrealist paintings appeal to a majority of the country's people. He has also been a part of the 2016 Singapore Biennale with his work entitled, The Most Mild Mannered Men.



Photography artist Koh Chaik Hong, an alumni of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) has won several of the national awards aimed towards architectural and structural photography. This young man is growing quite a following for his professional understanding of beautiful landscape and cityscape compositions- a trade not very often understood by photographers merely seeking to proliferate profit.



Multiple mediums of art are being popularized in Singapore, especially the ones revolving around digital-based styles, possibly due to the growing interest of young adults who see their country as a booming hub for learning about the most advanced techniques and practices used in the fields of graphic arts, movie making and 3D modeling. They're not wrong, Singapore has definitely earned its place in the roster of fastest-growing countries with relation to these sectors.