Author: Chong Fah Cheong

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Visit with the coolies

Chong Fah Cheong

The coolies had been sitting outside Fort Canning MRT station for a few months. And that one day in November 2024 it was a typical very hot Singapore afternoon; the sun was blazing down unimpeded by a single cloud in the sky, the heat was intense. But the coolies were unfazed. It was just Another Day in the lives of these dockside labourers, except that day they had a surprise visit from none other than CFC himself who had come by to see how comfortable they were in their now-permanent home. Also that day, a young Indian tourist from Mumbai … Continue reading Visit with the coolies

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Made in Sg exhibition

Chong Fah Cheong

Three Wise Men was my entry at the Sculpture Society’s recent exhibition, Made in SG, at Gardens by the Bay colonnade, 20 July – 18 August, 2024. The sculpture shows a typical scene at a hawker centre — a group of older “wise” men enjoying their daily chatter, solving the world’s problems over their cups of kopi-o. I felt it was an appropriate contribution to the exhibition which is meant to “present sculptures encapsulating the essence of our homeland, Singapore” and illustrating “the intricate tapestry of our collective childhood memories, local culture, landscapes, indigenous flora, and diverse lifestyles”, to quote … Continue reading Made in Sg exhibition

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GBB Moongate gets a visit

Chong Fah Cheong

A friend from Merritt, Br. Columbia, now visiting Singapore, went by my Moongate sculpture at Gardens by the Bay and sent me this photo. Nice to see that the sculpture is still looking good. If you haven’t seen it and would like to, this bronze Moongate marks the spot where the SG50 Time Capsule was placed in 2016. The concept behind this sculpture fits in well with the time capsule as it is all about journeys, new beginnings, arrivals and departures. The Moongate is a magical place! Continue reading GBB Moongate gets a visit

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Intense!

Chong Fah Cheong

Intense fun, intense learning! Fahcheong held a small intimate workshop in modelling yesterday. There were 10 participants, age ranging from young kids to seniors, all new to the art of making figures in clay. It was a seemingly simple exercise — start with a piece of wire, make a few curls for the head then turn your wire down for the body, do the pelvis and the legs and so on until you finally have the skeleton of your figure. Next using paper and clay, fill in the details. In that fashion, the hours flew by as everyone got immersed … Continue reading Intense!

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Metta fun workshop

Chong Fah Cheong

Teaching an art workshop is a most rewarding experience — to be able to share my love for art and sculpture and impart whatever skill I have gained over the years. And one of the best workshops has to be the one at Arts@Metta held earlier this month, October 2022. This opportunity was made possible, thanks to our mutual friend, Daniel Foo, who asked if I would be an arts mentor to two Metta students. Two quickly grew to ten very enthusiastic participants. We spent three very enjoyable days during which I taught the young artists how to use wire … Continue reading Metta fun workshop

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Grace & Charm, nude sculptures in the public space

Chong Fah Cheong

This lovely book arrived in the mail a few days (ok, weeks) ago and I’d like to share it with you. It is written in German and although I could not read the text, there were many beautiful and well-taken photographs of sculptures that bridged the language barrier and gave me a sense of what the authors were trying to do in the book. For sure, you will enjoy leafing through the pages and immersing yourself in them. The authors and photographers are Hanno Ehrler and Manuel Berdel who wrote and asked if they could feature my sculpture, First Generation, … Continue reading Grace & Charm, nude sculptures in the public space

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New workshop — come visit!

Chong Fah Cheong

These last few weeks have been somewhat gruelling, focused as I have been on getting my sculptures out of the Emily Hill studio and into new digs at Tampines. Perhaps I should have taken up painting! Moving several tons of wood, stone and bronze could not have been done without much help from friends, especially Leslie, B and Eric and the workers, thanks to all. It hasn’t just been a physical challenge. Learning the intricacies of bidding for and renting a JTC unit has been even more challenging! The water is connected, soon the electricity. Shelves and partitions are going … Continue reading New workshop — come visit!

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Art and mental health

Chong Fah Cheong

Art as therapy is a well-established fact and has been an important tool for health professionals and anyone invested in the well being of others and themselves. This episode of Art in 90 Seconds by the National Gallery of Singapore features my sculpture, Family and One. In this clip, Ezekiel, an intern with the Singapore Association of Mental Health, talks about how the sculpture, which is on display at the gallery, expressed all that he was feeling with regard to his battle with mental illness and the importance of support from family and friends, and the idea of balance. Thank … Continue reading Art and mental health

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Cultural Medallion Showcase

Chong Fah Cheong

On Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, a new Cultural Medallion Gallery will be launched by the National Arts Council at The Arts House, home of the arts in Old Parliament Lane, Singapore. The gallery will highlight the multi-disciplinary contributions of Singapore’s esteemed arts elite, recipients of the Cultural Medallion. I am honoured, as a CM recipient myself, to be included in this showcase. Looking forward to the launch! Continue reading Cultural Medallion Showcase