Chieu Shuey Fook (b. 29 June 1934, Singapore - ) is an enamel painter who started out as a batik artist but later became intrigued by the reaction of chemicals on metal. He has made a name for himself in metal relief art and his works have been known to be rich in textural qualities. He has held solo exhibitions and participated in prominent group exhibitions both in Singapore and in countries such as Germany, Australia, France, Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan.
Education and Employment
Chieu graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 1953. While receiving his art education at NAFA, he spent his afternoons working at a printing press. To some extent, his side job influenced his art because it got him interested in working with metals.
He later worked at a renowned advertising agency, where he was a visualiser for more than 20 years. Just as he had balanced his studies with work in his earlier days, he managed to strike a good balance between work and art as an art director in the agency by day and an artist by night.
He enjoyed his work in the advertising agency immensely, counting himself fortunate to be given artistic freedom by his creative directors. He chose to focus on fine art for his graphic designs, with heavy emphasis on creativity and experimentation. His designs had client appeal and his approach allowed the fusion of his designs and metal relief works.
Accomplishments
In 1970, Chieu won the top prize in the Instant Asia Art Competition for his first work in metal relief titled "Water House". That year proved to be an illustrious year for him, as his other work "Demon Fish" was selected by the International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation for use in its worldwide advertising campaigns and it also won two citation awards in New York among 4,000 competing entries. In the same year, Singapore Airlines commissioned him to produce aluminium murals for the Raffles Lounge of 20 Boeing 747 airplanes. His other major art commissions in Singapore include an enamel frieze at the Orchard MRT Station, fibreglass relief murals in Shangri-La Hotel, a copper enamel mural at the Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) Building, and a coin sculpture for Community Chest.
Chieu has participated in various notable art events, including the 1990 Singapore Art Car project in which he was commissioned by Singapore Auto Engineering to paint a restored 1961 Moris Minor. He decorated the car with myriad colours to reflect Singapore's greenery and well-landscaped roads. The car was later auctioned off for S$50,000 and the proceeds were donated to the Community Chest of Singapore. In 2005, Chieu and 12 other homegrown artists such as Tang Da Wu, Cheo Chai-Hiang and Rizman Putra created artworks using bricks from the demolished Times House for an exhibition called Art Brickfest. His work "Samsui Woman of Brick" was auctioned off, with the proceeds going to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.
Judging by the events he has participated in, Chieu is passionate about sharing his knowledge of art with the public and the people around him. In 2006, he took part in the RED ART Art Jams, a jamming session which aimed to bring together people interested in art and provide a space for them to express their creativity. Together with fellow artist Chua Ek Kay, he guided the participants while introducing them to painting and elementary techniques of creating art for themselves.
Stylistic Conventions
Chieu developed his unique art form by mixing etching and dyeing on metal sheets. Although this technique is similar to etching, he uses the master plate as a work of art instead of using it to print. He finds inspiration working with metals and has described such materials as "having a life of their own in light".
He advocates experimentation and encourages local artists to explore different forms of art. He feels that artists should challenge themselves to tackle different mediums but at the same time pay attention to their collectors' needs. Their pieces need to have an edge as discerning collectors look for uniqueness in ideas and application.
Chieu himself has not only worked with batik and metals but glass as well. In 2001, he presented his first public display of glasswork titled "Kaleidoscope", which he had been working on for several years using glass recycled from bottles. He is also keen to return to experimenting with batik, the art discipline he was first introduced to. With other artists, he hopes to transform batik into a relevant and contemporary art form as well as change the local perception of batik as being just sarongs or cloth to be worn.
Solo Exhibitions
1970 : The Gallery of the Fine Art, Singapore.
1971 : Samat Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1972 : The Gallery of the Fine Art, Singapore.
1973 : Alpha Gallery, Singapore.
1976 : Dresdner Bank Gallery, Frankfurt, Germany.
1976 : Desborough Galleries, Perth, Australia.
1976 : East & West Art, Malvern, Australia.
2000 : New and Old, Telok Kurau Studios, Singapore.
Selected Group Exhibitions
1990 - 1999 : Singapore Art Society Annual Exhibition, Singapore.
1990 - 1999 : Modern Art Society Annual Exhibition, Singapore.
1990 : 5th Asian International Art Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
1991 : 6th Asian International Art Exhibition, Tagawa, Japan.
1992 : Singapore Art Fair, IMM Hall, Singapore.
1992 : 7th Asian International Art Exhibition, Bandung, Indonesia.
1993 : 8th International Art Exhibition, Fukuoka & Tagawa, Japan.
1994 : 9th International Art Exhibition, National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan.
1995 : 10th Asian International Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore.
1996 : 11th Asian International Art Exhibition.
1997 : 12th Asian International Art Exhibition.
1998 : 13th Asian International Art Exhibition.
1998 : Tomorrow's Realism, Telok Kurau Studios, Singapore.
1998 : The Karang Guni Art Exhibition, Kampong Eunos, Singapore.
1998 : Glass on Tiles, Telok Kurau Studios, Singapore.
2000 : Orchard Point, Singapore.
2000 : Creative Centre National Art Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
2000 : Cite International des Arts, Paris, France.
2003 : NAFA Fundraising Art Show, Sculpture Square, Singapore.
2005 : Art of the Second Generation, NAFA, Singapore.
2005 : Art Brickfest, Wheelock Place, Singapore.
2006 : Important Second-Generation Artists Series 2, DLR Gallery, Singapore.
Awards
1970 : 1st Prize, Instant Asia Art Competition, Singapore.
1970 : Two citation awards, New York, United States.
1982 : 1st Prize, Creativity Competition, Modern Art Society, Singapore.
1983 : Award for NOL Mural.
1989 : Distinction Award, NAFA Alumni Association Visual Art Creation Award.
Author
Adlina Maulod
References
Cheah, U. H. (2003, January 18). Tails of strength. The Business Times. Retrieved December 27, 2008, from Factiva database.
Chew, D. (2006, June 2). A jam session... with paint. TODAY. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
Chia, W. H., et al. (Ed.). (1982). Singapore artists. Singapore: Singapore Cultural Foundation; Federal Publications.
(Call no.: RSING 759.95957 SIN)
Chow, C. (2004, May 19). Body parts bag award. The Straits Times. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
Chow, C. (2005, October 18). Brick-throughs. The Straits Times. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
Chow, C. (2006, June 27). Come on break new ground. The Straits Times. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
Li Fine Art Gallery. (n.d.). Art of South East Asia: Chieu Shuey Fook. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from http://www.lifineart.com/chieu.htm
[Life and work of Chieu Shuey Fook] [Poster]. (n.d.). Singapore: [s.n.].
(Call no.: RCLOS 709.5957 LIF)
Mega Media (Production company). [2003]. Art nation: Episode 8 [Television series episode]. Singapore: MediaCorp TV 12 Singapore.
(Call no.: RSING 700.95957 ART pt. ep.8)
National Art Council. (2005). Singapore Art Show 2005: Programme highlights. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from http://www.nac.gov.sg/Data/news/235/(VA)%20PR_SAS%20Media%20Launch%20(5%20Sep%202005).doc
Nayar, P. (2001, November 24). Reflecting childlike spirit. The Business Times. Retrieved December 27, 2008, from Factiva database.
Putting on art on the streets. (1990, November 4). The Straits Times. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
Shhh... Artist at work. (2008, February 12). TODAY. Retrieved February 14, 2011, from NewspaperSG.
SingaporeArt.org. Chieu Shuey Fook. Retrieved January 10, 2009, from http://biotechnics.org/2chieushueyfook.html
Thang, K. H., Teo, E. S., Lu, Q. X., Ng, Y. W., Wong, S., & Ho, H. Y. (1987). New directions 1980-1987: Modern paintings in Singapore. Singapore: Horizon Publishing.
(Call no.: RSING 759.95957 NEW)
Further Readings
Kwok, K. C. (c1996). Channels & confluences: A history of Singapore art. Singapore: Singapore Art Museum.
(Call no.: RSING 709.5957 KWO)
Tan, B. T. (2005). Art of the second generation: Beyond fact and fiction. Singapore: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
(Call no.: RSING 709.5957 TAN)
The information in this article is valid as at 2009 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
