It’s a long weekend and tomorrow, Monday, 24th October is a Public Holiday before work gets busy for all of us again. May I suggest putting National Art Gallery into your itinerary? Singapore’s history is colourful just like any countries but they are predominantly black and white with coloured analogue photographs at best.
If you have young teenagers or if you are in your youthful days, this visit to ‘Directing the Real’ by famous artist, Chua Mia Tee, 蔡名智 will alter your visual senses greatly when it comes to Singapore’s history. Even professionals at my age who witnessed the rapid urban changes to our landscape, iconic landmarks and waterways will thoroughly enjoy the vivid coloured oil paintings and penciled sketches from yesteryears.
From portable cinema on wheels, Benjamin Sheares Bridge, scenes of pet bird cages, samsui women, Mr. Lim Kim San also known as the Mister Housing Development Board (HDB), sketches of former President Mr. Ong Teng Cheong, former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew’s Merdeka Talks upon his return from London, these beautiful works of art were etched in eternity through his brushes and pencils at a time when titans and giants were at their prime.
History is a crucial piece of identity that we embrace dearly. Context matters especially for multi-racial Singapore with a Chinese majority in ethnicity. Immigrants from yesteryears are now citizens and residents, yet our efforts of globalisation are coming to naught if we fail to see each other in the same lens from before when we were all young.
We are impatient, anxious and quick to judge with rapid changes around us. Yet, we fail to see the rich cultural history and diversity that we can swiftly destroy with tensions and wars.
What matters to us? The joy of winning amidst the destruction and decimation of others; or a rich cultural world with harmony that we can leave behind for our descendants. I prefer the latter, because I know they will be safe and doing good for generations to come.
Chua Mia Tee’s exhibition will end on 20 November 2022. I saw pieces of art donated by Lim & Tan Securities, which I last saw more than 15 years ago in their office. I smiled when I saw the familiar sight again. Will you smile at our yesteryears? Visit to find out.
Other ongoing exhibitions include students’ art from Assumption Pathway School and Wu Guanzhong, 吴冠中。 Here are some highlights from these exhibitions and sights of NAG.
#marvinTechAdvocate
I am @Mar Vin, Foo 🌿.
Thank you for pacing back and forth a beautiful gallery with Singapore art pieces amidst cosy lightings.
P.S: Special thanks to a friend who told me the importance of knowing our history and its people as we rise up the ranks to serve the people.
Here’s a reward for those who reached here. This is the video of the Portable Cinema.
Published concurrently on LinkedIn, 23 October 2022, which you can find right here.