Song of cicada



Painting

01 Jan 1995

Photographed By Chua, Ek Kay

Information About

Song of Cicada is Chua’s most complex work on the use of symbolic space. The patches of ink represent drifting leaves in an expanse of empty space which serves as a space of imagination where the viewer is invited to imagine and envision experience from within the painting. Physical dimensions of original: 1800 x 3600 mm. (4 parts).


Additional Details

Credit Line
This digital copy (c) National Library Board Singapore 2008. The original work (c) Chua Ek Kay, 1995.

More to Explore

Archipelago

Archipelago

IMAGE

The Archipelago series invokes the landscape of island-forms. The series returns Chua to the ink tradition of landscape painting, but Chua’s intentions are to cast the subject matter as symbolically localised landscapes to accommodate social and historical journeys of inter-regional migratory seafarers. Physical dimensions of original: 960 x 1420 mm....

Aqueous waves

Aqueous waves

IMAGE

An acrylic painting on canvas, Aqueous Waves represents the transition in Poon’s work from a visual vocabulary made up of purely geometric forms to one of curved lines – subsequently referred to as “waves”. The emphasis on both chromatic harmony and the savant distribution of shapes and forms is distinctive...

Winter landscape

Winter landscape

IMAGE

Winter Landscape is an early work of Yeo’s prefiguring important aspects of his later oeuvre: colour and abstraction. The image also encapsulates landscape, which became an important aspect of Yeo’s later work, reflecting his fascination with travel and places. Physical dimensions of original: 1260 x 1000 mm....

Singapore River

Singapore River

IMAGE

River bumboats are a long-standing subject in Lim’s paintings of the Singapore River, their presence filling each picture with symbolic and historical meanings. Impressionistically handled, Lim employs warm and vibrant colours such as red and green rendered in bold strokes, successfully creating a dynamic and joyous feel to the en...

A wall of history

A wall of history

IMAGE

A Wall of History is a mature development of Chua’s Singapore Street Scenes series. Here, Chua clearly articulates his relationship with the series: the façade is now a symbol inscribed by and with history in bearing the residual stains of time and neglect. Physical dimensions of original: 1930 x 2520 mm....

City vista

City vista

IMAGE

City Vista represents the development of collage and the exploration of the potential of materials Yeo found around him. He regards collage as a way of freeing himself from the tyranny of the brush. This painting presents the idea of an abstract land/cityscape, commenting on the architecture of his environment. This...

Coleman Bridge : general view

Coleman Bridge : general view

IMAGE

This is a photograph of the Coleman Bridge along the Singapore River. On the right is The Riverwalk, formerly known as Riverwalk Galleria. Physical dimensions of original: 35 mm. Title devised by Library staff....

Autumn warmth

Autumn warmth

IMAGE

Autumn warmth expresses Yeo’s lifelong fascination with nature, and more formal panoramic landscapes like this enable the artist to ‘escape’ from urban living. It takes him away from the confines of the city, enabling him to re-experience his travels. This work is part of the Singapore Art Museum Collection. Physical dimensions of...

A junction on Rochor Road

A junction on Rochor Road

IMAGE

A Junction on Rochor Road is made after Chua’s return from post-graduate studies in Australia. Here, with the use of the technique of expressive ink and calligraphic strokes, Chua distorts the subject such that the image is at threat of dissolving into fragmentary chaos of patchy stains. The painting balances...

Old houses being demolished: general view [2]

Old houses being demolished: general view [2]

IMAGE

This photograph shows old, dilapidated houses awaiting demolition. Such old houses and buildings were torn down to make way for urban redevelopment. Physical dimensions of original: 35 mm. Title devised by Library staff....