Synopsis:

An Unbroken Line focuses on the drawings and creative process of Chng Seok Tin. This extensive display of drawings, mixed media works, preparatory sketches and sketchbooks, most of which have never been exhibited before, were created in the 1970s and '80s. They bring the viewer close to the heart of what moved and shaped Chng's life in this period. Through them, we are offered rare, and often personal and vulnerable, glimpses into her world—the countries she lived and studied in, the landscapes that inspired her, and the people who left indelible marks on her life. This survey of Chng's early works reveals the constantly evolving relationship between observation and creation in her practice. The line work in her drawings can be bold and experimental at times, and delicate and poignant in others. We also witness the development of motifs that she would continually return to and explore throughout her career as an artist.

Her art tells the story of a woman with an independent, adventurous spirit, and a deep love for life and people. The line that runs through Chng's work is assured and evocative, one that reaches into our present and that continues to inspire and speak to us.

About the Artist
Chng Seok Tin (b.1946, Singapore) studied art in Singapore, UK, France, and the USA from 1971 to 1985. She occupies a central position in the development of printmaking practices in Singapore from her contributions as an artist and educator. Although she majored in printmaking, her works encompass drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, textile, photography, ceramics, sculpture and installation, often premised on her long-standing interests in nature and the human condition. In 1988, due to a brain abscess, she lost most of her eyesight, and since then, her practice has focused on mixed media and sculptural work. She has held more than 30 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 100 group exhibitions in Singapore and abroad. Chng was awarded the Cultural Medallion by the government of Singapore in 2005. She is also an accomplished writer and was recipient of the Singapore Chinese Literary Award in 2007 by the Singapore Literary Society. Since 2005, she has presented works at the Esplanade's various spaces on five occasions