O Level SOVA Artists Consolidated Handout

Art as Narrative and Inspiration

Many artists use their artworks to depict history, the environment and ways of life. Their artworks show the record and investigation of historical events, personal experiences and
daily lifestyles of people. Through this theme, students will learn how these records and investigation are inspired and interpreted with an appropriate application of the art elements
and design principles. These artworks often become sources of inspiration and influence.

1.1 Ng Eng Teng​ (Singapore) 1.2 Chua Mia Tee​ (Singapore) Chua’s 1.3 René Magritte​ (Belgium) Magritte’s 1.4 Pablo Picasso​ (Spain/France) The
Ng’s sculptures are mainly inspired by the belief that art must reflect reality is realistic juxtaposition of ordinary people living condition of people is often depicted
human figure. His works range from iconic exemplified in his paintings of the working and objects in unexpected contexts offer in Picasso’s paintings through the use of
different styles. These styles range from
public sculptures to whimsical class. His detailed rendition of nationalistic unusual perspectives and meanings of the emphasising colours and lines to
representations of the human forms. His concerns in the early days of Singapore is world we live in. His paintings often fragmenting forms to geometric planes.
simplified yet exaggerated forms display a snapshot of its formative years. challenge the way we see things in an
his ability to communicate in an imaginative way.
imaginative and at times surprising ways.

Ng Eng Teng, Wealth, 1974, Ciment National Language Class, 1959, Oil on
fondu, 206 × 259 × 92 cm. canvas, 112 × 153 cm.
The Human Condition, 1933, Oil on
canvas, 100 × 81 cm.
The
Greedy Child, 1901, Oil on canvas, 117.8
× 94 × 10.1 cm.

Workers in a Canteen, 1974, Oil on Personal Values, 1952, Oil on canvas, 80

Batak Girl, Undated, Ciment fondu, 60 × canvas, 89 × 126 cm. × 100 cm. Guernica, 1937, Oil on canvas, 349 × 776
45 × 24 cm.
cm.
1.5 Frida Kahlo​ ​(Mexico) 1.6 Jeff Wall​ (Canada) 1.7 Nick Park​ ​(United Kingdom) 1.8 Tang Da Wu​ ​(Singapore)
Kahlo’s artworks show her identity as a Wall’s large scale photographic images Park’s stories of social issues and Tang’s artworks show a wide range of
woman, Mexican and an artist. Her close depict the life of people and their living concerns are told playfully through ideas that tell stories of people, cultures
observation of herself, her family and the spaces in a staged manner. His eye for stopmotion animation. His imagination, and the environment. His installation art
environment, combined with the use of details and use of actors and artificial research and close observation of people and experimental treatment of medium to
intense colours, are powerful statements lighting allows him to narrate the stories of allows him to create the characters convey critical social messages are often
about her personal experiences. urban life in a cinematographic way. successfully. thought-provoking.

A Sudden Gust of Wind (After Hokusai),

1993, Photographic transparency and
illuminated display case, 250 × 397 × 34 Creature Comforts, original airing July 15,
cm. 1989, stop-motion animation, 5 min. Tiger’s Whip, 1991, Mixed media
My Dress Hangs There, 1933, Oil and installation. Dimensions variable.
collage on masonite, 45 × 50 cm.

Wallace and Gromit – A Close Shave,

1995, stop-motion animation, 30 min.
A View from an Apartment, 2004-2005,
Transparency in lightbox, 167 × 244 cm.

Heroes, Islanders, 2005, Installation of

Chinese ink on paper. Dimensions
My Grandparents, My Parents, and I variable.
(Family Tree), 1936, Oil and tempera on
zinc, 30 × 34 cm.
Art as Expression and Identity
Artworks are often used as a product/process in which artists illustrate ideas, emotions and identities. These artworks suggest the forming of people’s beliefs and aspirations.
Students will learn how artists represent the mentality, personalities, and social and physical being of themselves and others; depict the diversity and dynamics of human
relationships; and build historical and cultural heritage through art.

2.1 Georgette Chen​ (Singapore) Chen’s 2.2 Liu Kang​ (Singapore) Liu’s mastery in 2.3 Affandi​ (Indonesia) Affandi’s 2.4 Wu Guanzhong​ (China) Wu’s unique
artworks exemplify her sensitivity towards portraying people and their way of life is expressionistic style of painting is style is made up of a fusion of traditional
her subjects, often including people, exemplified in his expressive brushstrokes, displayed through his highly emotional Chinese art with Western influences. He
landscape and everyday objects. As one of pictorial balance and treatment of the charged self-portraits. The process of often combines the use of Chinese ink,
the pioneer artists of Singapore, Chen’s human forms. Known as one of the squeezing paints directly onto the canvas water colour and oil with versatility to treat
portrayal of her emotions comes through pioneer artists of Singapore, his works and painting with his hands allow him to subjects such as animals and landscapes
her bold use of colours, brushstrokes, and have had a strong influence on the artistic directly inject his energy and feelings, in an almost abstract way.
spatial arrangement. identity of Singapore. forming a unique style of his own.

A Lotus Flower Island, 2003, Oil on

Artist and Model, 1954, Oil on canvas, 84 canvas, 41 × 60 cm.
Portrait of Eugene Chen, 1940, Oil on × 124 cm.
canvas, 92 × 91 cm. Self-Portrait, 1975, Oil on canvas, 126 ×
97 cm.

The Wu Village, 1993, Ink and colour on

paper, 68 × 137 cm.

Life by the River, 1975, Oil on canvas,

126 × 203 cm.

The Three Expressions of Affandi, 1979,

Phoenix Eyes, c. 1940 – 1945, Oil on Oil on canvas.
canvas, 72 × 54 cm.
2.5 Nam June Paik​ (USA) The complexity 2.6 Wassily Kandinsky​ (Russia) The 2.7 Constantin Brancusi​ ​(Romania) 2.8 Andy Warhol​ (USA) The ideas of
of contemporary culture preoccupies the compositions of lines and flat geometric Brancusi’s simplified sculptures are consumerism and mass production are
artworks of Paik. His experimental use of shapes in Kandinsky’s abstract paintings intended as a universal statement where embraced in Warhol’s artworks. His
television screens, music and elements of express his belief in using basic elements the observed world is reduced to essential approach of screen-printing photographic
American culture and Zen Buddhism, of art to bring out the essence of music. minimalism. These ideas are derived from images of everyday objects or celebrities
forms a dynamic and interactive style of His introduction of abstract elements gave being true to materials, inspirations by in graphic style repeatedly expresses his
art. art a new meaning as a means of African sculpture and the development of belief and sets a trend of mechanical
expression. abstraction. methods for making artworks.

32 Campbell’s Soup Cans, 1962, Synthetic

polymer paint on canvas, each 50 × 40
Composition VI, 1913, Oil on canvas, 195 Monument Ensemble at Târgu Jiu, 1937, cm.
× 300 cm. 30-metre high column of zinc and
brassclad, cast-iron modules, and two
Family of Robot: Baby, 1986, Colour video, stone monuments, on an axis 1300 m
silent, thirteen television monitors and long, oriented west to east.
aluminium armature; number nine of nine,
133 × 96 × 20 cm.

Dominant Curve, 1936, Oil on canvas, 129 Marilyn Diptych, 1962, Acrylic on canvas,
× 194 cm. 205 × 289 cm.

Danaide, circa 1918, Bronze on limestone

Alexander the Great, 1993, Mixed media,
base, 28 × 17 × 21 cm.
wooden sculpture with TV monitor and
neon lights, 230 × 135 × 280 cm.
Art as Communication and Design
The use of art as a visual form of communication and its utilitarian function is often associated with design. Students will learn about the importance of art as a visual language to
convey meaning and purpose, and understand how artists communicate their intent through the functional application of their artworks in modern society.

3.1 Han Sai Por​ ​(Singapore) 3.2 Chuah Thean Teng​ (Malaysia) The 3.3 Thomas Heatherwick​ ​(United 3.4 Rei Kawakubo​ (Japan) Kawakubo’s
Han’s highly polished public sculptures use of batik painting in Chuah’s artworks to Kingdom) Heatherwick’s practice aims to bold use of geometric forms and
often convey environmental messages and express the spirit and joy in the daily life of bring together design, sculpture and combination of colours to create whimsical,
evoke a sense of life through their the people shows its value as a traditional architecture through the innovative dramatic and innovative fashion design.
biomorphic forms. They show effective craft. As one of the prominent crafts of application of technical knowhow and Her founding of the fashion house
considerations of the surrounding space Southeast Asia, batik painting is materials to create meaningful furniture, COMME des GARÇONS in 1973 marked
and choice of materials for public art. traditionally used to create decorations in sculptures and public monuments. the beginning of her influential fashion
fabric. career.

Flora Inspiration, 2007, Marble. Seed Cathedral, UK Pavilion, Shanghai

Expo 2010, Made of 60 000 fiber optic
Untitled (Batik Workers), 1960, Batik, 73 × rods and encased seeds, 20 metres in
88 cm. height.
Body Meets Dress, Dress Meets Body
Collection, Spring/Summer 1997.

* Mother and Child, undated, Batik, 58.8 ×

Growth, 1985, Marble, 40 × 13 × 10 cm, 44.1 cm.
26.5 × 15 × 13 cm, 21.5 × 16 × 12 cm, 19
× 26 × 12.5 cm, 11 × 28.5 × 14 cm. Olympic Cauldron, 2012, Copper and
Stainless steel, 8.5 metres in height.
Fall/ Winter 2012/2013 Collection.
3.5 Paul Rand​ (USA) 3.6 Takashi Murakami​ ​(Japan) Murakami 3.7 Richard Avedon​ (USA) 3.8 Marcel Duchamp​ ​(France) Duchamp
The effective use of pictographic uses imageries, which are influenced by Avedon’s theatrical photography brings the played a key role in shaping the
symbolism and simplified visual language the flat stylistic traditions of Japanese audience closer to American celebrities. development of art in the 20th century. His
in Rand’s graphic designs make them graphic art, animation and consumer pop His style of revealing the non-glamorous use of ready-mades by taking them out of
visually enduring. Bold and minimal lines culture, in his drawings, paintings and side of his famous subjects through portrait their everyday function and calling them
are used appropriately to create tone and sculptures. The simplified yet bold use of photography conveys a strong art, challenged the traditional idea of art.
shapes in the designs. shapes and colours make his artworks confrontation message. His ready-mades show how art is
appealing to art collectors and consumers. redefined as a visual language of
communication.

Dovima with Elephants, Evening Dress by

And then, and then, and then... (Original Dior, Cirque d’Hiver, Paris, August 1955, Fountain, 1917, replica 1964, Porcelain
Blue), Edition: 300. Signed, numbered. gelatin silver print, 48.4 × 38.2 cm. Urinal, unconfirmed: 36 × 48 × 61 cm.
Wallace Puppets, 1938. 2008. Lithograph, 50 × 50 cm.

Marilyn Monroe, actress, New York City,

May 6, 1957, gelatin silver print, printed
1989, 56 × 59 cm. Bicycle Wheel, 1951, Metal wheel
UPS Logo, 1961 and 1990. Kaikai & Kiki, 2000. Oil paint, acrylic, mounted on painted wood stool, 129.5 ×
synthetic resins, fiberglass and iron, 190 × 63.5 × 41.9 cm.
96 × 46 cm.