Chng Seok Tin, Floating World, 1994
Chng Seok Tin – Remembrance of a Friend is an exhibition that fondly recalls the late artist’s legacy of artworks. Vignettes of favourite artworks, projects and thoughts shared by Chng during her lifetime with friends, students and family members are recalled through selections of her art spanning forty years from 1975 till 2016. An artist who was also a writer and teacher, Chng left a lasting impact on those around her. Through the proliferation of her work, her persistent experimentation and development of printmaking methodology, and her personal wisdom, Chng’s work leaves us with her wryly touching life philosophies and timely commentaries about the inconsistencies of the world she lived in.
On exhibit are more than 60 artworks comprising paintings, prints, sculptures and relief works. The selection from the estate of the artist has been curated from the perspectives of some of those who knew her personally, and who shared conversations, or worked alongside Chng. This memorial exhibition is a way for her family to share warm memories of the artist’s life and creative work with her many friends, and to share the richness of Chng’s legacy with those who have yet to be introduced. Many pieces convey her pithy humour, sometimes cryptic allusions, and even her love of local patois. The memorial exhibition coincides with Chng’s solo at the National Gallery Singapore Chng Seok Tin: Drawn Through a Press as part of the larger feature Something New Must Turn Up running 7 May to 22 August 2021, creating pertinent alignments and counterpoints to the National Gallery’s exemplary summary exhibition of the artist’s work.
Before her death in 2019, Chng’s work was exhibited in two solos – An Unbroken Line at Jendela at the Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay (2019), and MY JOURNEY – Feel the Hope, Embrace the Shine at The Arts House (2019). Both exhibitions have been worthy, well-researched productions of good scale, systematically giving important understanding into the artist’s lifework from different points of interest. Where the curators at Jendela focused on Chng’s early works on paper, including a wonderful symposium of drawings, pencil sketches, studies and completed printwork, the exhibition at The Arts House focused on a spate of exciting recent productions including sculptures and textural works. Yet there is more to view and appreciate – Chng had massive energy and a rich bounty of artistic ideas that were often created in series, that linked thematically one to another. Chng persistently explored new techniques for print and art media, significant for a medium based on age-old press methodologies. Her work significantly expands definitions for art-making for both sighted and visually-assisted artists in terms of approach, output and method. This selection for a memorial exhibition endeavours to bring us closer to the heart of the artist.
Net proceeds of sales from the exhibition will go, as per the artist’s wish, towards supporting needy students with disabilities who are keen to pursue the visual/performing/literary arts programmes on offer at Very Special Arts, a charity close to her heart and with which she had an enduring friendship.
Venue: The Arts House, Gallery 1, 1 Old Parliament Lane, Singapore 179429
When: 21 - 29 Aug 2021, 10am - 8pm
By: The Arts House at the Old Parliament
