{"product_id":"chua-ek-kay-the-reflections-chinatown-rice-merchant-c-2000s","title":"Chua Ek Kay, The Reflections (Chinatown Rice Merchant), c. 2000s","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChinese ink on paper\u003cbr\u003e120 x 70 cm (each)\u003cbr\u003eCondition: Very good\u003cbr\u003eCertificate of Authenticity and Proof of Purchase available\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e-\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLauded as the “bridge between Asian and Western art”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Chua Ek Kay 蔡逸溪 (Singaporean, 1947-2008) was an artist who adeptly blended Chinese painting forms such as Chinese ink on paper, with Western art theories and techniques. His bold reinterpretation of ink traditions won him accolades such as the UOB Painting of the Year Award in 1991, being the first Chinese ink-painter to do so, and the Cultural Medallion in 1999. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eChua’s early life was rich with Chinese cultural influences — he wrote Chinese poetry, read Chinese literature and practised calligraphy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. In 1975, he was taught Chinese brush painting by Fan Chang Tien, Singapore’s master ink painter of the Shanghai School. As Chua trained in the Shanghai School style, he found similarities to the works of Western artists like Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock, as both were rife with artistic spontaneity. As he continued to hone his artistic practice, he realised that the discipline of Chinese art helped strengthen his lines whilst Western techniques helped him in the mixing of tones. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/Screenshot_2025-11-19_at_17.06.48.png?v=1763542930\" alt=\"\" width=\"498\" height=\"281\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhoto courtesy of Land Transport Authority.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Reflections — Chinatown Rice Merchant\u003c\/em\u003e is a preparatory work for Chua’s 60-metre long mural found at Clarke Quay MRT station. These images were silkscreened onto vitreous enamel panels now found at the station. The mural depicts life on the Singapore River, showing the arrival of early migrants in the 19th century, the tongkangs that used to ply the river, the buildings surrounding the river and street celebrations by the riverside. As Chua fondly said of this installation “My works at Clarke Quay are some of my largest works of my entire career. It will be a magical moment for me when the public views my works for the first time.” View a virtual tour of Chua’s full installation at the station \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8lHEXLSRULc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cimg height=\"345\" width=\"299\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/Screenshot_2025-11-20_at_10.29.48.png?v=1763605612\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eArt in Transit: North East Line MRT \u003c\/em\u003eby Tan Su Yen\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003eIn 2003, a\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e book detailing the various artworks that grace the station and link ways of the North East Line titled\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eArt \u003cem\u003ein Transit: North East Line MRT \u003c\/em\u003ewas published by the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003eLand Transport Authority. It \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(0, 0, 0);\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003etells the story of the creation of the artworks on the North East Line and the many outstanding individuals who made it possible.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-b0d208f4-7fff-f94a-b5af-25a2fcb35894\"\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eAcquired from Art Outreach Charity Auction in 2004.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(Photographed in November 2025)\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Art Again","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52744864563565,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0889\/4159\/2941\/files\/Untitleddesign_6.jpg?v=1763621392","url":"https:\/\/artagain.co\/products\/chua-ek-kay-the-reflections-chinatown-rice-merchant-c-2000s","provider":"Art Again","version":"1.0","type":"link"}