Exhibition Introduction

Singapore is a city that has continually transformed within the span of a few generations. From bustling riverbanks, traditional shophouses and village life to soaring skylines and vibrant urban neighbourhoods, every era has left behind stories that define our collective identity.

This exhibition brings together the works of distinguished Singapore artists across generations, offering a visual dialogue between the Singapore of yesterday and the Singapore of today. Through the masterful brushwork of Tan Choh Tee, Koeh Sia Yong and Eng Siak Loy, visitors are invited to revisit familiar scenes that have gradually faded from the physical landscape but remain deeply rooted in our memories. Their paintings preserve the spirit of old Singapore—its streets, markets, people and everyday moments—with remarkable warmth and authenticity.

Alongside these works are paintings by Tung Yue Nang, Zhu Hong and Marvin Chew, whose perspectives capture the evolving face of contemporary Singapore. While rooted in the same city, their interpretations reflect changing architecture, lifestyles and artistic expression, revealing how Singapore continues to grow while retaining echoes of its past.

Together, these artworks illustrate not only the physical transformation of our nation but also the enduring connection between memory, place and identity. They remind us that every modern skyline stands upon layers of history, and every generation contributes its own chapter to Singapore's evolving story.

We invite visitors to journey through these paintings and reflect on how the Singapore we know today has been shaped by those who came before us, while imagining the legacy we leave for generations to come.

Paintings by Tan Choh Tee

A recipient of Singapore's Cultural Medallion (2006), Mr Tan Choh Tee is one of the nation's most accomplished oil painters, celebrated for his evocative portrayals of Singapore's urban landscape. Since graduating from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1962, he has devoted more than six decades to painting the city directly from observation, believing that authentic art should arise from the artist's own experience of place.

Working predominantly in oil, Mr Tan is best known for his paintings of the Singapore River, Chinatown, historic streets and familiar city landmarks. Executed with confident brushwork, rich colour and an expressive use of the palette knife, his paintings capture not only the appearance of Singapore but also its atmosphere and changing character. Whether depicting bustling markets, riverfront activities or the city's evolving skyline, his works reveal a sensitivity to light, space and the rhythms of everyday life.

Mr Tan Choh Tee's works are held in the National Collection, including notable paintings such as Singapore River (1981), In the Open – Chinatown Market (1982) and City Skyline (2000), which trace Singapore's transformation across the decades. His paintings have been exhibited widely in Singapore and overseas, including exhibitions in Taiwan, China, Germany and Thailand, and featured in major exhibitions such as Imagining the City at the Singapore Art Museum in 2007. 

PAINTINGS BY KOEH SIA YONG

For Koeh Sia Yong, painting has always been a way of preserving the spirit of Singapore. While his works often depict familiar streets, markets and shophouses, it is the people who give these places their life and meaning. Hawkers, trishaw riders, shopkeepers and neighbours are not merely figures within the landscape—they are the heartbeat of the communities that shaped the nation's identity.

As Singapore underwent rapid urban transformation, many of the scenes that Koeh observed gradually disappeared from the physical landscape. Rather than resisting change, he chose to record these everyday moments with sincerity and compassion, creating a visual archive of a Singapore that lives on through memory.

paintings by eng siak loy

Eng Siak Loy is one of Singapore's distinguished second-generation artists, celebrated for his evocative oil paintings of the nation's streets and riverfronts. His works capture the character of old Singapore with remarkable sensitivity, preserving familiar places and everyday scenes that have gradually disappeared through the city's rapid transformation.

Beyond his achievements as a painter, Eng has made an extraordinary contribution to Singapore's visual identity. In 1999, he became the first Singaporean to design the nation's entire Portrait Series of circulating currency notes—an enduring design that remains in use today. His creative legacy also extends to the design of Singapore's stamps, coins and numerous public artworks, reflecting a lifelong dedication to art and public service.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Eng was awarded the President's Design Award – Designer of the Year in 2007. His close association with Singapore's green heritage was further honoured when the Singapore Botanic Gardens named an orchid, Dendrobium Eng Siak Loy, after him during his solo exhibition there—a rare distinction that reflects the breadth of his artistic legacy.

paintings by zhu hong

An architect by training, Zhu Hong approaches Singapore as a city to be observed, explored and continually rediscovered. Since making Singapore his home in 1997, he has devoted much of his artistic practice to capturing the island's evolving urban landscape—from familiar neighbourhoods and shophouses to contemporary landmarks such as Changi Airport and the city's ever-changing skyline.

Rather than pursuing photographic realism, Zhu Hong reconstructs the city through imagination and memory. Dynamic perspectives, playful distortions of architecture and vibrant colours transform everyday streets into energetic compositions that reveal the vitality of contemporary Singapore. 

Paintings by marvin chew

Marvin Chew is one of Singapore's leading contemporary watercolour artists, celebrated for his vibrant portrayals of modern Singapore. Painted largely on location, his works capture familiar streets, cafés, parks, heritage districts and cityscapes with remarkable sensitivity to light, atmosphere and everyday life. His paintings invite viewers to pause and rediscover the beauty in places they encounter every day.

Working in a semi-realistic, impressionistic style, Marvin is best known for his masterful handling of transparent watercolour and expressive brushwork. Rather than simply recording architecture, he paints the experience of being present—morning light filtering through shophouses, bustling cafés, quiet neighbourhood corners and the vibrant rhythm of contemporary Singapore.

A Signature Member of the National Watercolour Society (USA) and former Vice-President of the Singapore Watercolour Society, Marvin has participated in numerous international exhibitions across the United States, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan. His achievements include invitations to the prestigious International Watercolour Masters exhibitions in 2018 and 2022. Through his exhibitions, workshops and mentorship of fellow artists, Marvin continues to contribute actively to the growth and appreciation of watercolour painting in Singapore.

paintings by tung yue nang

Tung Yue Nang offers a distinctive vision of Singapore—one where history and the present unfold within the same landscape. Working predominantly in Chinese ink, he paints directly on location at places such as Chinatown, the Singapore River, Joo Chiat and Lorong Buangkok, capturing the city's changing character through careful observation and personal engagement.

His paintings are neither purely documentary nor nostalgic. Instead, Tung weaves together different moments in time. Historic shophouses and familiar streets retain the charm of old Singapore, while contemporary shopfronts, delivery riders, office workers, pet owners and everyday passers-by bring the scenes unmistakably into the present. Beyond these heritage streets, the skyline of Marina Bay Sands and Singapore's modern financial district often emerges, quietly reminding us of the nation's continual transformation.

A highly respected ink artist, Tung Yue Nang has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including multiple Highly Commended Awards and a Distinction Award at the UOB Painting of the Year competition, as well as the Dr Tan Tsze Chor Art Award for Chinese Painting and Chinese Ink. His practice reflects a continual dialogue between tradition and innovation, demonstrating how the language of ink painting can continue to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in Singapore's heritage