Private Preview:
4th October 2025
Exhibition Opens to Public:
6th October 2025 —— 24th October 2025
Venue:
50 Cuscaden Road, HPL House #01-01, Singapore 249724
Tel: + 65 6339 0678 Fax: + 65 6438 2080
Exhibition Overview
iPRECIATION is delighted to present Within Ink, Beyond Form — 12 Years Journey of Tay Bak Chiang. This retrospective traces twelve years of the artist’s creative evolution.
Known for his contemporary reinterpretation of traditional Chinese ink painting, Bak Chiang explores the relationship between nature, memory, and human experience. His works combine classical ink traditions with modern materials and techniques.
The exhibition presents three key bodies of work: Stone, Guqin, and Local Food. Together, these series reveal the artist’s evolving ideas and artistic language. They also highlight his transition from delicate ink on rice paper to richly layered mineral pigments on canvas.
Themes and Artistic Development
Bak Chiang’s practice is deeply rooted in close observation of nature in Singapore and Southeast Asia. As a result, many of his works feature natural motifs such as flowers, birds, and geological forms.
Throughout his career, he has explored subjects including blooming lotuses, sunbirds, palm groves, and weathered stones. These elements often appear simple at first glance. However, they carry deeper symbolic and emotional meaning.
This exhibition therefore invites viewers to experience the artist’s development in both form and philosophy. On one hand, the Stone Series reflects quiet stillness and contemplation. On the other hand, the Guqin Series explores resonance, absence, and inner space. Meanwhile, the Food Series captures intimate moments of everyday life and memory.
Artistic Transformation
Over the past twelve years, Bak Chiang has gradually expanded the boundaries of ink painting. Initially, he worked primarily with traditional rice paper. However, he later began experimenting with mineral pigments on canvas.
This shift allowed him to build richer textures and stronger colour contrasts. Consequently, his works gained greater physical presence while maintaining the spirit of ink traditions.
His Stone Series presents geological forms as calm and meditative subjects. In contrast, the Guqin Series focuses on perspective and silence, often depicting the instrument through hollow or fragmented views.
More recently, the Food Series emerged during the pandemic. In this series, Bak Chiang reflects on the sensory memory of street food culture. Bold forms and simplified compositions emphasise the emotional connection between food, memory, and daily life.
About the Artist
Tay Bak Chiang (b. 1973) is a Singaporean artist whose work draws inspiration from the natural landscapes of Southeast Asia. His subjects include flowers, animals, and stones. Through bold colours and minimalist forms, he transforms familiar motifs into symbols of emotional depth and reflection.
Bak Chiang graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. He later continued his studies at the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou.
Over the years, he has received several major awards. Notably, he is a two-time recipient of the UOB Painting of the Year. In addition, he received the Young Artist Award in 2002.
Bak Chiang has held more than seventeen solo exhibitions. Furthermore, he has participated in international art fairs such as Art Basel Hong Kong and Art Stage Singapore. His works have also been shown in fairs across Miami, New York, London, and Paris.
Today, his artworks are included in many private and public collections. These include the National Gallery Singapore and the The Istana, as well as several international institutions.
