In his latest exhibition, Singaporean artist Tung Yue Nang depicts the tradition and vibrancy of his homeland in a series painted on the streets of the island city.The show, entitled “Cityspace: Contemporary Ink by Tung Yue Nang” and hosted by the Cape of Good Hope Gallery, sees the artist striving to capture the unique heritage of Singapore using the traditional medium of ink, painting on rice paper as generations of East Asian artists have done before him. However, in Tung’s paintings, this historic mode is interrupted by the modernity of neon lights or billboards standing alongside the ancient architecture.Tung’s work investigates this contrast. On one hand, he includes these modern touches as an indication of how easily Singapore’s history can be lost through progress and Westernization, “reminding us not to lose our identity due to modernization,” according to a statement from the gallery. However, they also represent what Tung sees as the vibrancy of Singapore, a bustling modern city where a variety of different people intermingle.Although the gallery calls Tung “a deeply-rooted Singaporean,” who “believes in the promotion of our unique culture and an ardent supporter in the preservation of our way of life,” he’s also an urbanite who likes to paint “on the spot” in the heart of the city. These contrasting strands of his personality create a lively dynamic in the paintings on view.“Cityspace: Contemporary Ink by Tung Yue Nang” runs April 11-30 at Cape of Good Hope Art Gallery, in Singapore.
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