Chua Mia Tee is known as Singapore’s most acclaimed artistic forerunner in realism.

Drawing on his observations of people and life around him, his artworks have struck a chord with many people. Yet, to Chua, art goes beyond mere representation but entails purposeful direction. “The artist,” Chua wrote, “is simultaneously a writer, director and an actor, he can freely direct people’s image.” Focusing on Chua’s early practice from the 1950s to 1980s, the exhibition presents a fresh perspective on the artist and looks at his works through the lens of film alongside Singapore’s quest for progress. A story of the past but also one of the present, the exhibition offers a reflection of Singapore’s journey and the diverse groups of people who have contributed to its story and made it home.