Sze Wee Low - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Sze Wee Low

ThinkChina, 2024

While Nanyang art is genernally regarded as Singapore’s first local art movement, it is not the o... more While Nanyang art is genernally regarded as Singapore’s first local art movement, it is not the only genre of art that took root in Singapore in the pre-independence period. This essay examines the concurrent rise of Nanyang art, social realist art, and modern art in Singapore's vibrant art scene in the 1950s and 1960s.

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ThinkChina, 2023

With the exception of Georgette Chen, who had been the subject of three museum survey exhibitions... more With the exception of Georgette Chen, who had been the subject of three museum survey exhibitions since the 1980s, most people in Singapore would find it difficult to name another comparable female Nanyang artist. This essay examines the background of Madam Sun Yee, a Nanyang artist who spent three decades heading an art academy in Singapore.

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ThinkChina, 2023

This essay examines the characteristics of Nanyang art, highlighting the distinctive approaches t... more This essay examines the characteristics of Nanyang art, highlighting the distinctive approaches taken by a generation of artists in Singapore who sought to integrate Chinese and Western art traditions and aesthetics in their practice.

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ThinkChina, 2023

This essay provides an account of the history of collecting Chinese ink paintings in Singapore fr... more This essay provides an account of the history of collecting Chinese ink paintings in Singapore from the late 19th century to present day.

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ThinkChina, 2022

Over the years, terms like "Nanyang art", "Nanyang style" and "Nanyang school" have been used to ... more Over the years, terms like "Nanyang art", "Nanyang style" and "Nanyang school" have been used to apply to many past and living artists in Singapore. This has led to some confusion over how Nanyang art should be defined and whether it could still be produced today. This essay traces the origins of Nanyang art, the shaping of the identity of the “Nanyang artists” through the years, and the relevance of this movement to Singapore’s art history.

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Institutions, Intersections, Innovations: A Reader In Singapore Modern Art, 2022

This essay introduces a selection of texts included in "Institutions, Intersections, Innovations:... more This essay introduces a selection of texts included in "Institutions, Intersections, Innovations: A Reader In Singapore Modern Art". It covers 14 articles written by various artists and individuals on modern art practices in Singapore over the span of the 20th century. The essay examines each of the 14 articles in sequence, according to their date of writing, and asks the questions - What new light does each article cast on specific periods in Singapore’s art history? What new questions does each article raise over our current understanding of Singapore’s art developments?

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Modern Art Society Singapore publication, 2014

This essay examines the origins and motivations behind the establishment of the Modern Art Societ... more This essay examines the origins and motivations behind the establishment of the Modern Art Society of Singapore in 1964.
In the past, such questions were seldom posed in the writing of Singapore’s art history because more attention was paid on artists’ individual practice in the form of monographic exhibitions or publications. However, in recent years, there has been growing interest in the history of specific art societies or collectives such as the Equator Art Society, Ten Men Group and The Artists Village, as researchers sought to understand how these groups functioned within the larger socio-cultural landscape.

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BiblioAsia, 2022

This essay explores the distinctiveness of Chinese Singaporean culture through the lens of food. ... more This essay explores the distinctiveness of Chinese Singaporean culture through the lens of food. It highlights how Chinese hawker food in Singapore reflects the intermingling of different early Chinese migrant groups as well as the influence of other cultures.

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Ink Landscapes by Wang Jiafang - Highlights from Singaporean Collections, 2021

Wang Jiafang is regarded today as one of China’s leading practitioners of ink painting. Having ex... more Wang Jiafang is regarded today as one of China’s leading practitioners of ink painting. Having exhibited widely in China, his works have been well-received since the early 1990s. However, few realise that he has a special connection to Singapore that began in 2006, when he was still relatively unknown outside of China. This essay provides a background to Wang Jiafang, and an outline of his artistic practice. In addition, it will examine Wang’s relationship with local collectors against the larger history of ink collecting in Singapore.

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ThinkChina, 2021

This essay explores copyright issues, and the importance of copying in the Chinese ink painting t... more This essay explores copyright issues, and the importance of copying in the Chinese ink painting tradition. Many of Singapore’s first-generation artists like Chen Wen Hsi and Fan Chang Tien were important teachers of ink painting in Singapore. Copying was a common mode of learning for their students like Henri Chen Kezhan and Chua Ek Kay who did their best to copy the works of their teachers. While these students eventually developed their own styles, it could be argued that their achievements were made possible by their formative years spent on copying.

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ThinkChina, 2021

This essay examines how the distinctiveness of Chinese culture in Singapore arose due to a comple... more This essay examines how the distinctiveness of Chinese culture in Singapore arose due to a complex interplay of socio-geographical factors coming together over time.

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Publication for NAFA Symposium 2011 - New Asian Imaginations organised by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, 2011, https://www.nafa.edu.sg/New-Asian-Imaginations/mobile/index.html , 2011

Whilst there has been considerable research on Singapore artists and groups, not much study has b... more Whilst there has been considerable research on Singapore artists and groups, not much study has been done on the possible links between patronage and artists’ practice. This paper examines some case studies of relationships between artists and their patrons (or lack thereof) in Singapore. By outlining such ties, some answers may be found to questions such as how the artists first met their patrons, what support artists received and what type of works were admired and collected by patrons. Hopefully, future research will throw greater light on the roles played by private and public patrons in the development of artistic practice in Singapore.

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Heman Chong was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th Internationa... more Heman Chong was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale de Venezia in 2003. This interview provides an outline of his artistic interests and basis for his artwork proposal for the Biennale.

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Francis Ng was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th International... more Francis Ng was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale de Venezia in 2003. This interview provides an outline of his artistic interests and basis for his artwork proposal for the Biennale.

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Tan Swie Hian was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th Internatio... more Tan Swie Hian was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale de Venezia in 2003. This interview provides an outline of his artistic interests and basis for his artwork proposal for the Biennale.

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Tan Swie Hian 陈瑞献 is one of Singapore's most well-known multi-disciplinary artists with significa... more Tan Swie Hian 陈瑞献 is one of Singapore's most well-known multi-disciplinary artists with significant achievements in literature and the visual arts. This essay, outlining his interests and directions in painting, was written for his solo exhibition at the Singapore Art Museum in 2004.

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Lim Cheng Hoe was Singapore's most important and influential watercolour artist in the second-hal... more Lim Cheng Hoe was Singapore's most important and influential watercolour artist in the second-half of the 20th century. He is also generally regarded as an exemplary self-taught artist. This essay examines Lim's practice by exploring the possible ways by which the artist could have trained his mind and eye through modes of informal learning.

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Lim Cheng Hoe was Singapore's most important and influential watercolour artist in the second-hal... more Lim Cheng Hoe was Singapore's most important and influential watercolour artist in the second-half of the 20th century. This essay provides an introduction to his retrospective exhibition held at the National Gallery Singapore in 2018. It positions the exhibition within the ambit of the Gallery's exhibition strategies and the larger discourse of watercolour painting in Singapore's art history.

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Franklin Chow 仇大雄 is a Chinese artist based in Switzerland, whose mixed media practice draws upon... more Franklin Chow 仇大雄 is a Chinese artist based in Switzerland, whose mixed media practice draws upon diverse influences ranging from Chinese antiquities to literary texts and graphic communications. This essay outlines his thematic interests, reflected in the works featured in his first exhibition in Singapore in 2009.

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Fan Chang Tien 范昌乾 (1907-1987) belongs to the generation of significant pioneers in Singapore’s a... more Fan Chang Tien 范昌乾 (1907-1987) belongs to the generation of significant pioneers in Singapore’s art history. As an ink practitioner proficient in calligraphy and painting, he was an influential teacher to younger artists in Singapore from the 1960s to the 1980s. This essay outlines his main thematic interests in painting and highlights some key works for discussion.

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ThinkChina, 2024

While Nanyang art is genernally regarded as Singapore’s first local art movement, it is not the o... more While Nanyang art is genernally regarded as Singapore’s first local art movement, it is not the only genre of art that took root in Singapore in the pre-independence period. This essay examines the concurrent rise of Nanyang art, social realist art, and modern art in Singapore's vibrant art scene in the 1950s and 1960s.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

ThinkChina, 2023

With the exception of Georgette Chen, who had been the subject of three museum survey exhibitions... more With the exception of Georgette Chen, who had been the subject of three museum survey exhibitions since the 1980s, most people in Singapore would find it difficult to name another comparable female Nanyang artist. This essay examines the background of Madam Sun Yee, a Nanyang artist who spent three decades heading an art academy in Singapore.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

ThinkChina, 2023

This essay examines the characteristics of Nanyang art, highlighting the distinctive approaches t... more This essay examines the characteristics of Nanyang art, highlighting the distinctive approaches taken by a generation of artists in Singapore who sought to integrate Chinese and Western art traditions and aesthetics in their practice.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

ThinkChina, 2023

This essay provides an account of the history of collecting Chinese ink paintings in Singapore fr... more This essay provides an account of the history of collecting Chinese ink paintings in Singapore from the late 19th century to present day.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

ThinkChina, 2022

Over the years, terms like "Nanyang art", "Nanyang style" and "Nanyang school" have been used to ... more Over the years, terms like "Nanyang art", "Nanyang style" and "Nanyang school" have been used to apply to many past and living artists in Singapore. This has led to some confusion over how Nanyang art should be defined and whether it could still be produced today. This essay traces the origins of Nanyang art, the shaping of the identity of the “Nanyang artists” through the years, and the relevance of this movement to Singapore’s art history.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Institutions, Intersections, Innovations: A Reader In Singapore Modern Art, 2022

This essay introduces a selection of texts included in "Institutions, Intersections, Innovations:... more This essay introduces a selection of texts included in "Institutions, Intersections, Innovations: A Reader In Singapore Modern Art". It covers 14 articles written by various artists and individuals on modern art practices in Singapore over the span of the 20th century. The essay examines each of the 14 articles in sequence, according to their date of writing, and asks the questions - What new light does each article cast on specific periods in Singapore’s art history? What new questions does each article raise over our current understanding of Singapore’s art developments?

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Modern Art Society Singapore publication, 2014

This essay examines the origins and motivations behind the establishment of the Modern Art Societ... more This essay examines the origins and motivations behind the establishment of the Modern Art Society of Singapore in 1964.
In the past, such questions were seldom posed in the writing of Singapore’s art history because more attention was paid on artists’ individual practice in the form of monographic exhibitions or publications. However, in recent years, there has been growing interest in the history of specific art societies or collectives such as the Equator Art Society, Ten Men Group and The Artists Village, as researchers sought to understand how these groups functioned within the larger socio-cultural landscape.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

BiblioAsia, 2022

This essay explores the distinctiveness of Chinese Singaporean culture through the lens of food. ... more This essay explores the distinctiveness of Chinese Singaporean culture through the lens of food. It highlights how Chinese hawker food in Singapore reflects the intermingling of different early Chinese migrant groups as well as the influence of other cultures.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Ink Landscapes by Wang Jiafang - Highlights from Singaporean Collections, 2021

Wang Jiafang is regarded today as one of China’s leading practitioners of ink painting. Having ex... more Wang Jiafang is regarded today as one of China’s leading practitioners of ink painting. Having exhibited widely in China, his works have been well-received since the early 1990s. However, few realise that he has a special connection to Singapore that began in 2006, when he was still relatively unknown outside of China. This essay provides a background to Wang Jiafang, and an outline of his artistic practice. In addition, it will examine Wang’s relationship with local collectors against the larger history of ink collecting in Singapore.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

ThinkChina, 2021

This essay explores copyright issues, and the importance of copying in the Chinese ink painting t... more This essay explores copyright issues, and the importance of copying in the Chinese ink painting tradition. Many of Singapore’s first-generation artists like Chen Wen Hsi and Fan Chang Tien were important teachers of ink painting in Singapore. Copying was a common mode of learning for their students like Henri Chen Kezhan and Chua Ek Kay who did their best to copy the works of their teachers. While these students eventually developed their own styles, it could be argued that their achievements were made possible by their formative years spent on copying.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

ThinkChina, 2021

This essay examines how the distinctiveness of Chinese culture in Singapore arose due to a comple... more This essay examines how the distinctiveness of Chinese culture in Singapore arose due to a complex interplay of socio-geographical factors coming together over time.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Publication for NAFA Symposium 2011 - New Asian Imaginations organised by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, 2011, https://www.nafa.edu.sg/New-Asian-Imaginations/mobile/index.html , 2011

Whilst there has been considerable research on Singapore artists and groups, not much study has b... more Whilst there has been considerable research on Singapore artists and groups, not much study has been done on the possible links between patronage and artists’ practice. This paper examines some case studies of relationships between artists and their patrons (or lack thereof) in Singapore. By outlining such ties, some answers may be found to questions such as how the artists first met their patrons, what support artists received and what type of works were admired and collected by patrons. Hopefully, future research will throw greater light on the roles played by private and public patrons in the development of artistic practice in Singapore.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Heman Chong was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th Internationa... more Heman Chong was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale de Venezia in 2003. This interview provides an outline of his artistic interests and basis for his artwork proposal for the Biennale.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Francis Ng was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th International... more Francis Ng was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale de Venezia in 2003. This interview provides an outline of his artistic interests and basis for his artwork proposal for the Biennale.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Tan Swie Hian was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th Internatio... more Tan Swie Hian was one of three artists selected for the Singapore pavilion at the 50th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale de Venezia in 2003. This interview provides an outline of his artistic interests and basis for his artwork proposal for the Biennale.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Tan Swie Hian 陈瑞献 is one of Singapore's most well-known multi-disciplinary artists with significa... more Tan Swie Hian 陈瑞献 is one of Singapore's most well-known multi-disciplinary artists with significant achievements in literature and the visual arts. This essay, outlining his interests and directions in painting, was written for his solo exhibition at the Singapore Art Museum in 2004.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Lim Cheng Hoe was Singapore's most important and influential watercolour artist in the second-hal... more Lim Cheng Hoe was Singapore's most important and influential watercolour artist in the second-half of the 20th century. He is also generally regarded as an exemplary self-taught artist. This essay examines Lim's practice by exploring the possible ways by which the artist could have trained his mind and eye through modes of informal learning.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Lim Cheng Hoe was Singapore's most important and influential watercolour artist in the second-hal... more Lim Cheng Hoe was Singapore's most important and influential watercolour artist in the second-half of the 20th century. This essay provides an introduction to his retrospective exhibition held at the National Gallery Singapore in 2018. It positions the exhibition within the ambit of the Gallery's exhibition strategies and the larger discourse of watercolour painting in Singapore's art history.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Franklin Chow 仇大雄 is a Chinese artist based in Switzerland, whose mixed media practice draws upon... more Franklin Chow 仇大雄 is a Chinese artist based in Switzerland, whose mixed media practice draws upon diverse influences ranging from Chinese antiquities to literary texts and graphic communications. This essay outlines his thematic interests, reflected in the works featured in his first exhibition in Singapore in 2009.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Fan Chang Tien 范昌乾 (1907-1987) belongs to the generation of significant pioneers in Singapore’s a... more Fan Chang Tien 范昌乾 (1907-1987) belongs to the generation of significant pioneers in Singapore’s art history. As an ink practitioner proficient in calligraphy and painting, he was an influential teacher to younger artists in Singapore from the 1960s to the 1980s. This essay outlines his main thematic interests in painting and highlights some key works for discussion.

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Chronic Compulsions: Selected Works from Art Addicts Anonymous, 2024

Across the 20th century, the Singapore art scene saw the emergence of different collectors and co... more Across the 20th century, the Singapore art scene saw the emergence of different collectors and collecting groups. This essay offers a comparative study of two prominent groups in Singapore - Forum of the Fine Arts which was set up in 1991 and Art Addicts Anonymous which was established in 2014. Through an analysis of both groups, the essay examines developments during two key periods of Singapore’s art scene: the first from 1970s to the late 1990s, and the second from the 2000s onwards.

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