Snuff Bottles
H120xW70cm
Acrylic Painting, Silkscreen Printing, Silk Fabric Applique, Gold Foiling & Stitchwork on Canvas
The Shophouse artwork is reflective of Singapore culture and heritage. Shophouse buildings can be found all over the island. These stately buildings are a wonderful expression of the blending of a work and living space. Shophouse ornamentation draws inspiration from Malay, Chinese, European and Peranakan traditions. Painting the facade pastel colours became popular in the mid 20th century, and these colours have remained strongly associated with the image of the Singaporean Shophouse.
Snuff bottles were used in the Qing Dynasty to hold powdered tobacco - which the Chinese believed to have medicinal benefits. The trend of using snuff and owning snuff bottles became widespread, and the snuff bottle soon became an object of beauty as well as a status symbol.
The Shophouse featured in this artwork is located at Koon Seng Road, Joo Chiat, Singapore.