Tong Chin Sye, Malaysian Fishing Village, 1996, Mixed media, 75 x 110 cm
From 25 November to 4 December, artcommune invites you to partake in the fascinating mixed media exploration of 2nd-generation Singapore artist, Tong Chin Sye. Combining Western easel painting tradition with Chinese woodblock carving skills, the whirlwind of colour and creative amalgamation of East-West techniques reflects Tong’s multifaceted art training, as well as his lifelong dedication in pushing the expressions for the classical landscape genre.
Tong Chin Sye (b. 1939, Singapore –) is a multi-media artist trained in both Western and Chinese art. In 1987, he was awarded the first prize in the Port of Singapore Authority Open Art Competition. Over the years, he has participated in numerous exhibitions both locally and abroad. In 1998, he represented Singapore at the Flemish Watercolour Days held at Zaventen, Europe. Earlier in his career, Tong was also a part-time lecturer in Western Art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore. His dynamic oeuvre includes watercolour, oil, Chinese ink and mixed media paintings.
The 20 mixed media paintings on showcase explore the multicultural landscapes of Asia and span three decades of Tong’s earlier practice (1960s – 1990s). The works were composed first with a base layer of plaster, before implementing acrylic and watercolour pigments to generate a rich, vibrant texture with distressed effect. Some of the paintings also feature painstaking carving techniques, – a skill which Tong transferred from his woodblock making process unto his easel practice – in place of conventional palette knife sculpting. By carving on a plaster-based composition, the artist successfully resurfaces the texture and opacity of the medium to new visual effects.
Venue: artcommune gallery, 231 Bain Street, Bras Basah Complex, #03-39 Singapore 180231
When: 25 Nov - 4 Dec 2016, 12noon - 7pm
