Prayer to Spring – Love

Prayer to Spring – Love is a solo exhibition by Quek Kiat Sing, at the Visual Arts Centre this August. Kiat Sing, 48, juxtaposes modern-day subjects with traditional Chinese Ink to emphasise the relevancy of Asian culture in contemporary life.

Chinese ink painting on animals and pets are rare in Singapore and she has offered them a new lease in life with this chosen subject. A total of 44 pieces will on show. While one part is based on the theme of Sakura Flower, the second part, ‘Love’ is dedicated to a series of pet paintings commissioned by various collectors.  

“Animals are pure love.  All pet owners can attest to this. My journey to paint them started with my own pets, Mandy (Chihuahua), and Bear Bear (Holland Lop),” says Kiat Sing. 

“Originally, I wanted to have a dialogue session for the public where all the collectors of the pet paintings can talk about their pets and their paintings. Due to Covid-19, this event will be shifted online to my Facebook,” she adds.

Her favourite subject matters include the lotus ponds, mundane scenes of people and places in Singapore, as well as small animals. Kiat Sing has received numerous awards and has been commended in competitions such as the Sovereign Asian Art Prize, United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Competition, the Dr Tan Tsze Chor Art Award and the China ASEAN Youth Artwork Creativity Contest.

She has twice been awarded the Freeman Fellowship at Vermont Studio Centre, USA; represented Singapore at the ASEAN Cultural Week in Vietnam in 2004; represented Singapore in the India-ASEAN Artist residency at Darjeeling, India in 2012; and has been selected to provide the artwork for Shenton Way MRT Station under the Land Transport Authority's Art-in-Transit programme for the upcoming Thomson Line.