In John 14:2-3, Jesus’ promise to prepare a place for believers in the many rooms of God’s house is visually realised in manifestly architectural terms by Singaporean Christian painter Wong Shih Yaw, using the perspective that Jesus was a carpenter, and architect of the fantastical constructions on display. Starting with elaborate ink drawings worthy of architectural draughtsmanship, the series has now expanded to illustrative acrylic paintings on canvas to allow the artist exploration of more creative modalities. A monolithic structure dominates every composition; each construct appears to be built up by the accretion of several subunits, representing the frenetic activity of one or more carpenters. The carpenters, genial bearded men in workman’s dress, are seen milling about, together with several faceless everymen in varied stances. Occasionally the carpenter turns gardener, tending to bountiful harvests of grapes (the fruits of the Spirit) growing on the buildings or on supertree-like pergolas. Shih Yaw’s innovative imagery provides an apt visual metaphor for the Carpenter of Nazareth labouring to prepare an eternal dwelling place for the faithful.

Venue: Utterly Art Exhibition Space, 20B Mosque Street, Singapore 059500

When: 6 - 24 Jan 2022,

By: Utterly Art