- Choy Weng Yang
-
Choy Weng Yang
蔡荣恩
Born 12 July 1930
SingaporeNationality Singaporean Field Oil Painting, Drawing Training Hornsey College of Art Movement Postmodern art, Abstract Expressionism Influenced by Cezanne
Monet
Mondrian
Chinese ink paintingAwards 1973: UNESCO Fellowship in Creative Arts-survey of Contemporary Ameria art and research on environment arts at the MIT Center for Advanced Visual Studies
1979: Cultural tour by invitation of the Government of India
1985: Cultural tour by invitation of the Government of FranceChoy Weng Yang (Chinese: 蔡荣恩; pinyin: Cài Róngēn) is a Singaporean artist, curator and arts writer and a proponent of the art fraternity in post-independent Singapore. His literary contributions on post-modern arts in Singapore, had helped shaped the contemporary art scene in Singapore.[1]
Born 12 July 1930 in Singapore, Choy graduated with a National Diploma of Art UK from Hornsey College of Art in 1962 and received the Art Teachers' Certificate (UK) from the University of London Institute of Education in 1963. In his years as a student in London, he had many opportunities to study the works of great modern artists like Picasso and Mondrian, through visits to other European cities. These opportunities to travel, shaped his knowledge of art and his aesthetic development for his art in the years to come.[1]Back in Singapore after graduating from the Institute Choy worked as assistant lecturer in the Arts & Crafts Department of the Teachers' Training College, and subsequently took office as a Curator of Art with the National Museum of Singapore in 1978.[2] In his professional capacity he has served actively for the arts circle, receiving acclamation for his art criticisms for artists and writings about local artistic movements. Choy's passion for painting never left him despite his heavy work commitments, and actively participated in group artshows in Australia and Paris.[3] In 1982, Choy had contributed to an article on Singapore art, and published in the very first Singapore art directory, titled "Singaporean artists". This book was officially launched at the 1982 National Day Art Exhibition, by the then Minister of State for Culture, Major Fong Sip Chee, on 16 Aug 1982.[4]
His exposures to the western art during his curatorship tenure, enabled him to develop his artistic side. In the early years he was particularly influenced by the works by Monet, for its light and colour in his paintings. Progressively he found that using light and colour alone on his canvas was not enough in his own compositions. Cezanne's use of structure in his composition, and Mondrian's strength in order, clarity and strong composition design thus became an important elements in Choy's paintings from 1985 on.[2] It is also in the same year that Choy decided to retire from his curatorial position to devote himself as a full-time painter.[3] In the 1990s, Choy's works are increasingly influenced by Chinese ink and wash paintings by the great Chinese masters of bygone dynasties.[2] [[file: In the years that followed after his retirement, Choy continued to be active in the arts scene. Choy's curatorial experience continued to be sought after by many art aficionados and artists alike, and frequently pens art criticisms and introductions of artists for their exhibitions and art publications.
Bust of Choy Weng Yang. A tribute to the great artist, by renowned sculptor Chern Lien Shan.
Major Exhibitions
Dates Title Location 1972 Singapore Art - Adelaide Festival of Arts Adelaide, Australia 1976 National Museum Art Gallery Inaugural Exhibition (group exhibition) National Museum of Singapore
Singapore12 September -
15 September 1979Contemporaries '79 (group exhibition) Alpha Gallery
Singapore1981 ASEAN Traveling Exhibition of Painting and Photography (group exhibition) 1985 Singaporean Artist - Salon des Artistes Francais Grand Palais
Paris, FranceASEAN Traveling Exhibition of Painting and Photography (group exhibition) 1987 New Directions (group exhibition) National Museum Art Gallery
Singapore1988 Singapore Contemporary Artists Hong Kong Art Centre
Hong Kong1990 Brun-Sin Singapore (group exhibition) Takashimaya Gallery
Singapore1991 1992 The Figure In Art In the Singapore Context
(2nd group exhibition by Group 90)Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Gallery
Singapore17 March -
19 March 1994ART of the Nude
(3rd group exhibition by Group 90)Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Gallery
Singapore1995 Art That Blinds Edmund Tie & Company
SingaporeArt and Business, presented by Shenn's Art Gallery Takashimaya Gallery
Singapore1996 Line Perceptions - recent drawings by 6 artists (group exhibition) Cicada Gallery
Singapore1998 Windows - paintings by 3 Singaporean artists (group exhibition) Art Forum
Singapore2000 Ambience - theme and variations (solo) DP. Space
Singapore2002 The Contemporary Asian Art Fair (group exhibition)
organized by the Art AssociationSuntec City
Singapore2004 City Inspirations Cape of Good Hope Art Gallery
Singapore2005 ARTSingapore Suntec City
Singapore2006 2007 ARTSingapore Suntec City
SingaporeUnique 9 Exhibition (group exhibition) Cape of Good Hope Art Gallery
SingaporeReferences
- ^ a b Maulod, Adlina (11 February 2009). "Singapore Infopedia: Choy Weng Yang". National Library Board. http://infopedia.nl.sg/articles/SIP_1459_2009-02-12.html. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ a b c Sau Yin, Tsang, ed (c1994). "Choy Weng Yang". Singapore Artists Speak 2. Singapore: Art & Artist Speak. pp. 48–51. ISBN 981-00-6191-9
- ^ a b Paintings by Choy Weng Yang. Singapore: Cape of Good Hope. ISBN 978-981-08-0338-4.
- ^ Lim, Juliana (17 November 2010). "First coffee-table book on “Singapore Artists”". A little bird told me…the journey of a Singapore arts manager 1980/90. http://julianalim.wordpress.com/2010/11/17/singapore-artists-first-coffee-table-book-on-singapore-artists. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
Categories:- Singaporean people
- Singaporean people of Chinese descent
- Singaporean artists
- Singaporean painters
- 1930 births
- Living people
- Singaporean people stubs
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