Artist: Simon Wee (b. 1946)
Mr Simon Wee was born in Singapore in 1946. Having studied under the renowned first-generation Master Painter, Chen Wen Hsi - his first teacher who introduced him to the basics of painting, Mr Wee would continue to hone his skills in art and move on to graduate from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1967. Over the years, after studying and practicing various painting forms and techniques, he developed his own signature style, which is most distinguishable by one fluid calligraphic stroke in the center of a solid blank space.
At first glance, Mr Wee’s art is deceptively simple, as it requires a great level of skill and control to be able to wield the brush in such a way that the single brushstroke continues to flow smoothly without any breaks, while managing the amount of pressure applied to create different levels of opacity, which allows the viewer to see the thinner lines that emerge from the individual brush hairs at certain points of the stroke. There would be no room for mistakes the moment he starts the design- or else, he would have to repaint the base and start all over again. It takes confidence, built up over the years of practice Mr Wee has put in, to be able to create masterpieces like these.
The minimalistic choices he makes in his works elicit a feeling of calmness and serenity, and a zen-centric aura about them. He often limits the number of colours he uses in each painting, so that the single emotive brushstroke stands out even more in contrast to its background. White, black and gold are his main colours, as his works usually mean to convey the duality, or yin/yang, of life, but every once in a while, we get to see a splash of colour as he invites an exciting neon green or soft rose pink to take the center stage in his art. There is always meaning behind the colours he uses and the way the stroke is created as all his works derive from complex dwellings of his mind and heart.
Every piece is signed off with the Chinese character “Chuan” (泉), which is the last character in his Chinese name: Wee Yik Chuan. With the character meaning a spring or a fountainhead, both sources of water, he could have chosen to sign off with it as a form of a good-luck emblem, as water in the Chinese culture often symbolises youth and life, and abundance.
Inner Wisdom
In Inner Wisdom, the white acrylic stroke is painted onto a black background. We can see that it goes in a clockwise direction, perhaps a message to the viewer that one gets wiser with time, and that we should take that time to sit with ourselves every now and then, to clear out any negativity and doubts and listen to the Inner Wisdom that is within all of us, to guide us on the right path. Mr Wee himself actually meditates daily in the mornings and paints right after, as he believes that is when his mind is at its clearest and he is most in touch with his emotions and thoughts. This is how he has managed to consistently portray his feelings into his work – if he starts a piece and does not resonate with it halfway, he throws it out and starts again, always keeping his art true to himself.
The brushstroke itself starts with a sharp, strong line, but immediately bends out with much lighter pressure which continues to be seen till it reaches its end. This stroke is absent of any fully solid areas, aside from the very beginning, and we can see the fine lines of the individual brush hairs evidently throughout. As with the way Mr Wee gently handled his brush to create this tranquil and steady line, this could also be a reminder to be gentle to ourselves. We are often our own biggest critics and tend to be the harshest to ourselves, setting an incredibly high standard we expect no one but ourselves to reach. But if we just stopped for a few minutes to reconnect with our Inner Wisdom, we would realise that it is okay to take life one step at a time and that we should be patient with ourselves as we continue to heal and brave through our struggles.
The clean white stroke could also symbolise the purity of one’s Inner Wisdom, as it is in us not to harm us, but to help and protect us through the hardships we face throughout our lives; whereas the black abyss in the background might mirror our darkest thoughts and insecurities born from the traumas and obstacles we encounter as we age. There is a sense of clarity one may feel from viewing this piece, much like a breath of fresh air, from this single-breath stroke, captivating us in the moment.
Conditioning
Conditioning: The process of training or influencing a person or animal mentally so that they do or expect a particular thing without thinking about it.
In this piece, we see a black form on a white base with a gold circle on the bottom corner. The brushstroke itself starts from the center and leads us through many twists and turns, while remaining in the shape of a circle. There are moments of stronger and lighter pressure on different sections of the stroke, creating a mix of solid black areas and finer lines.
Although similar to most of Mr Wee’s works which usually present a single stroke upon a pure background, this one features an additional gold circle, taking the audience who are familiar with his work aback. We are curious and drawn to that gold spot in particular because it is unexpected, and perhaps that is why this piece is ironically named Conditioning; for we were conditioned to expect his signature style the way many of his art is done, but were greeted by a small but significant element of surprise. Something new, albeit little in comparison to the canvas it lays on, has the ability to spark more intense emotions, such as excitement or confusion at the sight of it, just because it is different from what we have been used to.
A majority of us tend of have a set routine that we stick to, things we are used to doing on certain days at certain times. But sometimes, it might be refreshing to step out of our comfort zone and try something we’ve never done before – it might help us discover new parts of ourselves and keep life exciting and fun.
Venture
Venture, unlike most of his black and white works, features an azure blue that resembles flowing water against the black background. The blue on black gives off a feeling of calmness and strength through a storm, like renewed hope and motivation in spite of the troubles one may face.
The brushstroke starts from the bottom, strong, with conviction, and continues for a little as it rides up the wave. Then, it almost instantly transitions into feathered out lines until it hits an abrupt stop, which brings the stroke downwards until it gains the strength to rise again. It hits another unexpected stop, but just like before, continues to persist until it fades away to the top corner of the canvas. This seems to depict a person riding the wave of life, with all its ups and downs: the stronger pressure applied to the brush on the black surface is much like the times when we are filled with energy and motivation for life, and when it fades lighter, it represents the moments when we are faced with unpredictable setbacks and failures that may cause the fighting spirit in us to burn out. As the stroke fades upwards, off the canvas, it could be interpreted as an encouragement to the viewer: The future may be uncertain, but it is important to keep your faith, to venture forth and continue moving forward, for this journey known as “life” has more to offer and it will only take you higher as you press on and persevere.
There is much beauty in the intricate simplicity of Simon Wee’s art and if we just take a moment to observe them while digging deeper into ourselves, we get to uncover the hidden emotions and meaningful messages intertwined with his masterful brushstrokes. His unique style has captivated many art collectors and has earned him the success of holding his own solo exhibitions as well as participation in many group exhibitions, both locally and internationally. British Airways has also added his work to their collection, and currently showcases it in a permanent installation at Changi International Airport Singapore.
