Artist Country: South Africa, Singapore
Dimensions: 54in x 77in | 136cm x 196cm
Medium: Acrylic Painting, Silkscreen Printing on Canvas, Gold Foiling, Flocking, Silk Fabric Applique on Linen Canvas. Canvas Artwork has wire at the back of the frame for hanging.
“River by Night” is made up of all the beautiful colorful lights that get reflected into the river once the sun goes down. These lights come from the many shophouses that line the river's edge. If you’ve lived here in Singapore I’m sure you would have your unique memories of a dinner by the river, watching the boats pass by.
The color of the sky in this artwork is an intense blue. This is the color that you will see for a short time, just as the sun has gone down. The blue sky is made up of many different textures, washes of inky paint, velvet-flocked patterns, and metallic chinoiserie motifs. The Chinoiserie pattern is a nod to the Chinese culture here in Singapore, which makes up most of the population.
Behind the traditional shophouse, you will see towering skyscrapers; these are some of the stately office blocks that can be found in the CBD. Many of these office blocks get to enjoy beautiful river views.
In the waters of the river, there are many layers of stories to be told. An old fishing net speaks about bygone days when fishermen used to stand along the water's edge. An old map speaks of the early days of river trade in the 1800s, where this location was central to Singapore’s commercial activities and shipping businesses. The Raffles treaty is seen in the water; signing this treaty marked the beginning of Singapore as a British Settlement and trading post.
Blue & white porcelain patterns once again reflect the early days of trade. It is clear that this multifaceted artwork speaks of both the present day & history of Singapore.
