Introduction and Self-Portrait

Welcome to this exhibition celebrating the seven-decade career of the artist Teo Eng Seng. The subtitle of this exhibition, We're Happy, Are You Happy?, is the title of a work by Teo that you'll hear about on this tour. The tour begins at this self-portrait of young Teo Eng Seng, with black hair and wearing a white tank top. He painted this when he was 17. Teo is a painter, a sculptor, and an innovator of new artistic forms. His works of art are visually stunning and thought-provoking, and often challenge viewers to question the social issues of the day. In 1986, Teo received Singapore's highest arts award, the Cultural Medallion, for his contributions to visual arts in Singapore. Teo was born in Singapore in 1938. He began his art studies here and continued his education in the UK. After graduating, he began teaching and eventually returned to Singapore. Teo has long advocated for the arts and was an art educator for 25 years, retiring in 1996. His art has evolved from oil painting to new mediums like plastic waste, found objects and “paperdyesculp,” a medium he invented and which you will hear more about today. As you experience these works, here is a piece of advice that Teo often offers: “Don't Try to Read it, See it, Feel it.” There are four more stops on your tour, each about a different artwork.