Artist: Chua Mia Tee (b. 1931)

Mr Chua Mia Tee was born on 25 November, 1931 in China. In 1937, his family migrated to Singapore and he grew up playing along the banks of the Singapore River. His childhood experiences influenced him in his choice of theme and subjects. He attended the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from 1952 to 1957 and became one of Singapore’s pioneer artists. He starts by painting on location, refining and completing the process in his studio later. To him, art must reflect real life.  It need not necessarily be fully naturalistic but it must be firmly grounded in reality, so that the work is in no way ambiguous, but rather offers an easily accessible point of reference for the viewer. As a member of the Equator Art Society founded in 1956, he is one of the pioneer practitioners of Social Realism. Mr Chua’s famous works include National Language Class (1950) (Collection of the Singapore Art Museum) and Workers in a Canteen (1974) which underline a vigorous search towards an anti-colonialist and nationalistic identity in art.

Mr Chua Mia Tee is also a highly regarded master of portrait painting. He has captured on canvas prominent businessmen and politicians, including past and present presidents and prime ministers of Singapore. He has been invited to design currency notes and has proven his talents in creating the fifty-dollar commemorative banknote in celebration of Singapore’s 25th year of independence. In 2015, Mr Chua received the Cultural Medallion for his contributions to visual arts in Singapore.

Lovers Bridge, Venice

Hand in hand
Strolling down Lovers Bridge
The couple turn and kiss
Not at all kitsch

Side by side
Underneath the Meraviglie arc
In a drifting row boat
There romance sparks

 Come to Venice, Italy
Land of music and art
Doesn't matter, baby
It’s all about heart 

The Bridge of Meraviglie in Venice, Italy, is a popular attraction frequented by many international and local couples. Meraviglie, a feminine term meaning amazement and wonder in Italian, is a fitting name for the scenic location. Mr Chua depicts this romantic spot with warm tones to give it a dreamy, idealised look where singles can expect to fall in love and where couples would desire to cement their bond. In Lovers Bridge, Venice, two young lovebirds watch the flowing channel water while in an embrace, and it is highly plausible that they have a contented, blissful look on their faces. The light olive colour of the water that complements the mint green late afternoon sky brings about a sense of composure, abundance, rest, and security. Mr Chua does justice to the beauties of Bridge of Meraviglie and entices adventurous and passionate dreamers to travel to Venice to take a look for themselves.

Nude Series

In this nude series, Mr Chua Mia Tee does not shy away from depicting the realistic fleshiness of his female subjects, and emphasizes their curvaceousness. Sitting in natural light that may be emanating from a nearby window, the shapely women lounge on the cushioned floor or recline against padded seats. Again, Mr Chua uses warm tones of red, green, orange, brown colours that add a rosy complexion to his subjects in the Nude series.  Effortless, relaxed, and seemingly unconscious or even uncaring that they are being observed, the artist depicts all three voluptuous ladies with a small smile and downcast eyes. They do not stare at the artist, and thereby the audience, but look away. Reserved and passive, the women allow their bare bodies and naked expressions to be scrutinised. Mr Chua retains a sense of mystery by choosing to only reveal their bosom. As the eyes of the audience linger further South, they are left desiring for more and this temptation entices them to review the painting repeatedly. 

Despite Mr Chua’s belief in realistic art, his Nude series may be perceived by some as idealised by portraying his women as smooth, bumpless, hairless, scarless, and of a particular body type that may be reminiscent of art works produced during the Romantic era. Similarly, the ladies are of similar age profiles and have neotenous facial proportions, with a dainty nose, a rounded forehead, and small pouty mouths. Nonetheless, given the difficulty faced by many artists in drawing human figures, Mr Chua Mia Tee still manages to give his subjects individuality by using his knowledge of light and shadows to highlight their subtle differences. Back facing the light source, a long shadow is cast on the body of the female in the left Nude work. Since she also occupies a larger part of the canvas, this further creates the illusion that the shadow was used to conceal her slightly plump figure. In contrast, the woman in the centre Nude piece is front lit and still appears slim, with the added advantage of sitting further from the artist and thus appearing smaller. Finally, the lady in the right Nude work sits aside the light which gives her body a divine and flattering glow which emphasises her blooming beauty.

The Nude series is exceptional not only because it dares to tackle the taboo subject of nudity especially in a conservative, Asian society like Singapore in a tasteful way, but also because of Mr Chua Mia Tee’s utilisation of various art techniques to create distinct paintings that rejuvenate the senses.   

Serenity

In an unspecified location, art goers spot a classical pavilion sitting precariously on a cliff. Dense clumps of moss collect on the jagged rock surfaces due to the high moisture levels in the air near the valley stream, and the unpruned wild shrubbery grows freely in this natural environment. Mr Chua’s picturesque Serenity conjures feelings of calm, wholesomeness, and balance, which is evident in the uniform composition of this artwork that has no singular subject focus. This art piece may be a nostalgic throwback to a bygone time before large-scale industrial takeover or one of the few untouched remnants of the modern commercial age, which would be ironic given the ultimate commodification of the painting.

As the title suggests, Mr Chua presents us with an opportunity for serenity even if we are unable to physically travel to the featured destination. In moments of solitude, we may still be troubled by worldly affairs, and acquiring Serenity may allow us to tangibly grasp and “secure” the inner peace we so desire. 

As one of Singapore’s most prominent painters of panoramic landscapes and unique portraits, Mr Chua Mia Tee’s realistic and vivid style has repeatedly fascinated art collectors and viewers. Gifting his audience with a cozy sense of comfort through his art, Mr Chua understands a deeper need for security and reassurance among Singapore amid a volatile world by reminding them of the truly important matters of life like relationships and experience. A truly profound and wise (明智) lesson!