Low Puay Hua, Untitled (Kampong Glam), Undated

Watercolour on paper
72.5 x 52 cm (visible), 98 x 80 x 3 cm (framed) 
Condition: Very good

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Low Puay Hua (Singaporean, b. 1945), a 1965 graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, is distinguished by his eclectic range of artistic interests. His work spans multiple directions: landscape paintings that strengthen his discipline, streetscape paintings that deepen his understanding of local ethos, contemporary Chinese ink paintings that revitalise centuries-old traditions, and abstract art, which he explores for its potential in artistic innovation.

Through frequent travels and plein air painting, Low immerses himself in the sights and sounds of different environments, using these experiences to accumulate visual insights and develop a nuanced appreciation of cultural intricacies.

In Untitled (Kampong Glam), Low captures a scene of old Kampong Glam, offering a glimpse into a past that feels both distant and familiar. Likely painted from Muscat Street, the work features Sultan Mosque’s deep blue dome—a striking contrast to the golden dome seen today, following the mosque’s remodelling in 1968. A modest straw structure stands where a concrete shophouse now exists, subtly marking the passage of time.

Rendered in delicate watercolour, the painting carries a quiet nostalgia, preserving a moment in history. Like many Nanyang artists before him, Low presents a vision of a simpler Singapore. While one may never experience that version of the city firsthand, his mastery of watercolour and evocative perspective allow us to glimpse what once was.

(Photographed in February 2025)