Chua Mia Tee: Directing the Real 蔡名智： 映真

“The painter assumes the role of a scriptwriter, director and actor to freely shape the subject’s image.” —Chua Mia Tee Through character, narrative and composition, visionary artist Chua Mia Tee goes beyond mere representation to construct iconic images of Singapore’s changing landscapes and its inhabitants. Alongside full-coloured plates and curatorial essays in this catalogue are Chua’s writings collected together for the first time. Cogent and stirring, Chua’s own words bring revelatory insight to a prolific artistic practice that has started since the 1950s. One of Singapore’s most acclaimed artists, Chua was conferred the Cultural Medallion award in 2015, Singapore’s highest accolade recognising artistic excellence and contribution to the arts.

Publisher: National Gallery Singapore
Author Biography: Seng Yu Jin is Senior Curator at the National Gallery Singapore. He recently completed a PhD at the University of Melbourne, on the history of exhibitions in Southeast Asia. He was previously a Lecturer at LASALLE College of the Arts in the MA Asian Art Histories and BA Fine Arts programmes. Seng’s research interests cover regional art histories focusing the history of exhibitions and artist collectives in Southeast Asia. His curated exhibitions include From Words to Pictures: Art During the Emergency (2007), Cheong Soo Pieng: Bridging Worlds (2010), and co-curated the FX Harsono: Testimonies (2010), Singapore Biennale, If the World Changed (2013), Iskandar Jalil: Kembara Tanah Liat (Clay Travels) (2016) and Awakenings: Art in Society in Asia, 1960s to 1990s (2019). He recently co-edited Histories, Practices, Interventions: A Reader in Singapore Contemporary Art and co-authored Singapore Chronicles: Art with Shabbir Hussain Mustafa. He publishes in journals and art magazines such as Art Critique Taiwan and ArtReview.
Language: English and Chinese
Country of Origin: Singapore
Page count: 240
Binding: Paperback
Search words: Singapore art, Southeast Asian art,