Through All Vicissitudes: Prints & Sculptures by Chng Seok Tin

Featuring over 30 prints and sculptures that span the period of 1976-2010s, the exhibition Through All Vicissitudes: Prints & Sculptures by Chng Seok Tin traces the motivations that shaped Chng’s four decade-long creative journey and celebrates a life lived large in spite of obstacles and misfortunes.

Chng Seok Tin (b. 1946, Singapore – d. 2019, Singapore), Cultural Medallion recipient, was a renowned printmaker, sculptor and multi-media artist whose devoted practice to printmaking became synonymous with the Singapore printmaking development between the 1980s and 1990s. Chng’s printmaking oeuvre encompasses a variety of techniques and experiments (lithography, etching, engraving, silkscreen, woodcut, monotype and ink transfer), and reflects her mediations on Zhuang Zi (庄子) and various philosophical texts. Themes of existentialism resonate strongly in her prints and sculptures, which often dramatise man’s pursuits of dream, love and freedom, and the struggles towards enlightenment. At times, wry social commentary or humorous banter permeate her imagery.

An accident in 1988 left Chng visually impaired. This forced her to rely on mainly dry point or mixed media method, and the help of an assistant to continue her printmaking into the 2000s. Having earlier adopted mixed media installation and sculpture into her practice during her studies abroad in the 1980s, she decided to focus more on these mediums beginning in the mid-90s as they afforded her a more tactile and flexible exploration of forms and materials. As a passionate advocate and educator, Chng worked closely with ART:DIS (then formerly known as Very Special Arts Singapore) to enable and empower young persons with disabilities though the arts.

Confronted by seemingly insurmountable challenges, Chng was an artist who faced them squarely and endeavoured on with an indomitable spirit. Through All Vicissitudes: Prints & Sculptures by Chng Seok Tin brings to fore the adventure and vitalism that define Chng’s enduring legacy.