iPRECIATION @ ART SG 2025 (MBS Expo Booth BD09)

Irene Chou’s art, celebrated for its resilience and vibrancy, continues to inspire long after her passing. Known for her pioneering role in the New Ink Art Movement, her works have been showcased internationally, including at the Asia Society Museum in Hong Kong. In 2024, her art graced the cover of a Harvard University brochure for the “Medium of the Mind” conference. Despite physical limitations in her later years, Chou’s brushstrokes captured the beauty and perseverance of the human spirit. Her legacy endures, with her works to be featured at ART SG 2025.

Wang Dongling is a renowned contemporary ink artist, recognised for his ground breaking “Chaos Script” that blends traditional Chinese calligraphy with modern interpretations. His work draws from Buddhism, Daoism, and Chinese poetry. Wang earned a Bachelor’s in Fine Art from Nanjing Normal University (1966) and a Master’s in Fine Art from Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts (1981). His art has been exhibited globally at institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Guggenheim Museum, and National Art Museum of China. His works are in collections including the British Museum, Yale, and Harvard.

Distinguished as a Cultural Medallion recipient and a significant contributor to the Singapore art scene through education, Prvacki is celebrated for his mesmerizing abstract creations. His art involves a harmonious application of colours, motifs, and geometric shapes, possessing a distinctive allure that engages audiences in a nuanced exploration where deeper meaning unfolds with each gaze. This artistic approach has left an enduring imprint on Singapore’s cultural landscape.

Renowned for his exceptional oil on canvas creations, Wee Shoo Leong transcends the boundaries of traditional artistic expression. Rooted in a profound love for his homeland, Wee delicately captures the inherent beauty of Singapore’s landscape. His artworks transcend mere visual representation, acting as portals into reimagined narratives that echo poignant tales of the nation’s evolution and cultural vibrancy. Wee’s unique skill lies in his capacity to infuse each piece with a deep sense of connection and reverence, reflecting his appreciation for the diverse beauty found in the surroundings of the city-state. His latest works are set to be unveiled at Art SG 2025.

Wang Tiande completed his studies at the Chinese Painting Department of the China Academy of Fine Arts, formerly known as the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts. His academic journey coincided with the vibrant wave of the 85’ New Wave Art Movement, an influence that significantly shaped his artistic trajectory. This period left an indelible mark on his subsequent works, characterized by a spirit of exploration and experimentation. Wang’s approach introduces visual gaps that stimulate the viewer’s imagination, a departure from the conventions of traditional landscape paintings. The obscured view of the underlying layer, revealed only through the burns of the top layer, symbolizes the transient nature of modern existence. Wang Tiande sees this partial visibility as a metaphor for the fragmented aspects of contemporary living.

Oh Chai Hoo is a bold trailblazer in contemporary ink art, seamlessly merging traditional mediums with his imaginative flair. His artistic ventures yield creations that emanate tranquility, prompting profound introspection. What distinguishes Oh is his distinctive approach, at times opting for unconventional tools to create his pieces. This unconventional method showcases Oh’s exceptional talent and underscores his commitment to expanding the horizons of artistic expression in contemporary ink art.

Vincent Leow is a renowned artist and art educator whose diverse practice spans sculpture, installation, performance art, painting, and mixed media. A pivotal figure in Singapore’s contemporary art history, Vincent has made substantial contributions through his involvement with key art collectives. He was an early member of The Artists Village, founded in 1988 by Tang Da Wu, and has been influential in other artist-run spaces. Vincent also co-founded the now-defunct Utopia and is the founder of Plastique Kinetic Worms, a leading alternative artist-run space in Singapore.

Vincent was honored with the prestigious Singapore Cultural Medallion in 2020, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the arts. Additionally, he received the Culture Award from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 2002. His international representation includes the 52nd Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art (2007), the 9th Indian Triennial of Contemporary Art in New Delhi (1997), and the 1st Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art in Brisbane (1993).

Baet Yeok Kuan is a distinguished sculptor and educator whose practice is characterized by a profound exploration of form, space, and materiality. With a substantial contribution to the Singaporean art landscape, Baet’s work is recognized for its intellectual rigor and aesthetic innovation. A graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the University of Central England, Birmingham, Baet’s artistic journey has been marked by experimentation and a constant pursuit of new forms. His sculptures often challenge traditional notions of form, inviting viewers to engage in a dialogue with the artwork. Baet’s work has been exhibited extensively both locally and internationally, garnering critical acclaim and prestigious awards such as the Young Artist Award from the National Arts Council of Singapore. His inclusion in Art SG 2025 is a testament to his enduring impact on the contemporary art scene.

Renowned sculptor Lim Soo Ngee possesses a unique ability to infuse life into inert matter, transcending the boundaries of traditional sculpture. His creations, ranging from the whimsically cheeky to subtly charged with political undertones, act as powerful conduits for meaningful dialogue and reflection on a diverse array of subjects. Lim’s sculptural works extend beyond the physical realm, inviting viewers to engage emotionally and intellectually.

Ahmad Abu Bakar is a Singapore-based installation artist who utilizes ceramics as his primary medium. His career trajectory is marked by a unique blend of academic training and professional experience. Holding a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture from the University of Tasmania and a Master of Fine Arts, his artistic journey began with early exhibitions in Singapore and Malaysia. He has since become a prominent figure in the region’s contemporary art scene.

Ahmad’s work is recognized for its intricate and large-scale ceramic sculptures. Often referencing organic forms like pods, seeds, and clouds, his pieces explore themes of earth, sky, and the interconnectedness of nature and Southeast Asian culture. His sculptures challenge the traditional perception of ceramics, pushing the boundaries of scale and materiality.

Ahmad’s artistic practice extends beyond creating sculptures. He actively contributes to the art community through his role as an adjunct lecturer at the National Institute of Education. Additionally, he mentors inmates in an Arts program (3D studies) at the Singapore Prison Service, highlighting his dedication to art education and social impact.

Chiew Sien Kuan explores the subconscious response to urbanization and modernity through introspective mixed media works and assemblages. His art, influenced by the Christian tradition of self-examination and Makoto Fujimura’s views on creation and brokenness, delves into the impact of urban change on inner lives. Fujimura’s philosophy of nurturing culture through creative generosity resonates in Chiew’s work, emphasizing the healing power of art. Inspired by Singapore’s Ulu Pandan Railway Bridge, Chiew’s ‘Bridges Assemblages’ series symbolizes both past and future connectivity, blending physical and spiritual elements. His pieces, made from collected objects over 10-15 years, integrate materials like wood and aluminum, often including miniature trains. Chiew’s patient, intuitive process reflects temporality and the journey of transformation. His art, marked by inventive humor and musical sensibilities, is a personal reflection on inner growth and cultural healing.

Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Jonathan Nah, referred to as Kiat, has explored innovative and resourceful ways of creating art in response to lockdowns and limited access to materials. This journey has led him to develop a hybrid technique that combines digital and analogue mediums, inspired by his method of resampling material in music. The adventurous themes in Kiat’s work are closely linked to his fascination with emotions and the concept of freedom. His freeform creative approaches have enabled him to work across multiple mediums, from painting on walls and canvases to composing music for dance floors, theatrical stages, and art installations. He also creates works that blur the line between art and design for various brands and cultural institutions. Kiat has developed projects both locally and internationally for notable organisations, including Cake Theatre, The Peranakan Museum, Swarovski, Adidas, ArtScience Museum, Dazed Online, Versus, Dior, Selfridges, the Singapore Tourism Board, Nike, Beams, and SHOWstudio. His recent presentations include “Antinodes” during Singapore Art Week in 2022, “Sonic Sessions” at Singapore Art Week in 2024, and his first solo exhibition, “I Against I,” at Art Outreach in 2024.

Tay Bak Chiang, a contemporary artist renowned for his semi-abstract paintings, imparts a serene and introspective quality to his work. His acrylic on canvas creations captivated through a distinctive blend of traditional influences and contemporary flair. Tay’s art transcends conventional categories, celebrating diversity and appealing to a wide audience by seamlessly integrating familiar traditional elements with innovative approaches. His sophisticated understanding of form, space, and composition is evident in the meticulous execution of each piece, balancing visual allure with intellectual depth. By blending abstraction with representation, Tay provides viewers with a unique and engaging experience.

Willy Tay, a graduate of LASALLE College of the Arts (1994) and RMIT University (1998, 2004), has exhibited widely in Singapore and internationally. Notable shows include “Do You Believe in Angels?” (2014), “The Realm in the Mirror, the Vision out of Image” (2013), and “Moments on White” (2007). His recent work was part of the 2023 Impression Culture and Art Festival in Chengdu, China. Tay views art as a reflective medium, interpreting cultural and aesthetic narratives that shape collective understanding. His paintings engage with the layering of paint, drawing on themes of societal reflection and visual tension. His new works explore the lack of singular narratives, often focusing on antiquities and historical events to reconstruct fragmented stories that bridge the mundane with the magical, offering alternative perspectives and an escape from reality.

Eric Chan, a key figure in Southeast Asia’s contemporary art scene, is renowned for his ability to blend diverse skills into unified masterpieces. His latest works reflect a personal journey of growth and transcendence, symbolizing renewal and hope. Unlike his previous pieces, these works radiate optimism, depicting a world bathed in light with vibrant colours and blurred lines. The luminosity of his paintings highlights the resilience of the human spirit, offering a beacon of hope amidst the noise and challenges of today’s world. Chan’s art encourages us to find beauty in life’s possibilities, even in adversity, reminding us that there is always a glimmer of hope, no matter the darkness.