River Traders
H136 x W195.5 cm
Acrylic Painting, Silkscreen Printing on Canvas, Gold Foiling, Flocking, Silk Fabric Applique on Linen Canvas
“River by Night” is made up of all the beautiful colourful lights that get reflected into the river once the sun goes down. These lights come from the many shophouses that line the river's edge. If you’ve lived here in Singapore I’m sure you would have your own unique memories of a dinner by the river, watching the boats pass by.
The colour of the sky in this artwork is an intense blue. This the colour that you will see for a short time, just as the sun has gone down. The blue sky is made up of many different textures, washes of inky paint, velvet flocked patterns and metallic chinoiserie motifs. The Chinoiserie pattern is a nod to the Chinese culture here in Singapore, which makes up the majority of the population.
Behind the traditional shophouse, you will see towering skyscrapers; these are some of the stately office blocks that can be found in the CBD. Many of these office blocks get to enjoy beautiful river views.
In the waters of the river there are many layers of stories to be told. An old fishing net speaks about bygone days when fishermen used to stand along the water's edge. An old map speaks of the early days of river trade, a time in the 1800s, where this location was central to Singapore’s commercial activities and shipping businesses. The Raffles treaty is seen in the water - the signing of this treaty marked the beginning of Singapore as a British Settlement and trading post.
Blue & white porcelain patterns once again reflect the early days of trade. It is clear that this multifaceted artwork speaks of both the present day & history of Singapore.