Cheo Chai-Hiang (b. 1946, Singapore) is widely recognized as a pioneering force in Singapore’s modern art scene, often credited as the country’s first conceptual artist. Trained initially as a painter, Cheo became disillusioned with the dominance of “beautiful pictures” in local art and, after moving to England in 1971, embraced a radical, idea-driven approach that would redefine artistic practice in Singapore. His pivotal 1972 proposal, 5’ x 5’ (Singapore River)-a hand-drawn square straddling wall and floor, submitted by mail to the Modern Art Society’s annual exhibition-was rejected, but its audacious minimalism and conceptual focus sparked debate and discomfort, marking a turning point for Singaporean art and laying the groundwork for future experimentation. The artwork, though unrealized at the time, has since been recognized as a founding moment in the trajectory of conceptual art in Singapore, its “absence” and subsequent rediscovery emblematic of Cheo’s challenge to prevailing artistic norms.
Venue: Mr Lim’s Shop Of Visual Treasures, 02-01, 8 Haji Lane
When: 3 - 30 Jun 2025,
By: Mr Lim’s Shop of Visual Treasures
