Cover Singapore artist Shen Jiaqi with her artwork, ‘Bowl by bowl, the day unfolds’
A new wave of local talent is making its mark in Singapore’s
vibrant art scene; from whimsical interpretations of natural encounters to poignant reflections on urban society and profound narratives that
blend tradition and modernity, these emerging local artists are redefining the contours of
contemporary art.
Seasoned
art enthusiasts and those new to the scene alike are sure to cherish these reflective works, discovering in them a rich and diverse
cultural tapestry of Singapore and the region.
1. Charlotte Chin
Photo 1 of 6 Charlotte Chin’s ‘The Red Rooster’, 2023, acrylic and mixed media on paper
Born in 1970, Charlotte Chin uses her art as a medium to record
encounters with nature, telling the stories of “tiny plants that flourish in the thickest jungles and depths of dark oceans ... capturing the whimsical geometry and movement of nature.”
She is slated to exhibit at Affordable Art Fair in November 2024 and can be found at Art Forum in the meantime.
2. Dominic Thian
Photo 1 of 4 ‘In Antigone’s Garden’ by Dominic Thian, 2023, oil on linen
With a specialisation in still life, portrait, and landscape paintings, emerging
Singapore artist Dominic Thian combines classic figurative techniques with modern sensibility. The result is realistic and intricate, with a profound, timeless quality.
His works can be explored at Artcommune. Like Chin, he will be exhibiting at Affordable Art Fair in Singapore this November.
3. Khairulddin Wahab
Photo 1 of 7 ‘The Farthest Boundary’ by Khairulddin Wahab, 2023, acrylic on canvas
One of the ten local artists exhibiting at Cuturi Gallery’s upcoming Summer Group Show from August 17 until September 7, 2024, Khairulddin Wahab paints narratives drawn from anthropology,
environmental history, and post-colonialism in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
He works from found images and iconography derived from these contexts, often alluding to the region’s historical and political encounters with the natural world within his art.
4. Shen Jiaqi
Photo 1 of 8 Shen Jiaqi’s ‘Bowl by bowl, the day unfolds’, 2024, acrylic on linen
Another one of the artists exhibiting at the upcoming Summer Group Show at Cuturi Gallery, Shen Jiaqi tends to delve into “the historical and visual tapestry of the city” to document Singapore’s multifaceted urban landscape.
Her works thoughtfully chronicle our surroundings, layering architectural elements and industrial machinery with the adaptive nature of urban vegetation and human presence in the city.
The question of individual identity “amidst the perpetual flux of our environment” is another theme she explores, frequently blurring “the boundaries between memory and current reality, inviting audiences to contemplate familiar yet transient spatial presences, and evoking interpretations that resonate with the essence of urban evolution and human resilience.”
5. Faris Heizer
Photo 1 of 5 ‘Too Tired for a Coffee Break’ by Faris Heizer, 2023, acrylic and oil on linen
Faris Heizer is a young, emerging artist taking on the tradition of figurative painting in Singapore, basing his works on personal observations of contemporary society, often in an exploration of capitalism.
White-collar workers in “a range of imagined realities charged with intimacy, tension, and bewilderment” often feature in his works, which are defined by bold, gestural brushstrokes.
Like Shen Jiaqi and Khairulddin Wahab, he exhibits his works at Cuturi Gallery and will be a part of the Summer Group Show 2024 this month and next.
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