National Gallery Singapore presents its first photography exhibition, spotlighting Chua Soo Bin and his first retrospective

Singapore, 28 November 2019 - National Gallery Singapore spotlights its photographic collection with the first retrospective of local photographer and Cultural Medallion recipient, Chua Soo Bin, in the exhibition, Chua Soo Bin: Truths & Legends. Featuring close to 100 photographic works alongside archival materials, the exhibition, which runs from 6 December 2019 to 28 June 2020, will chart Chua’s remarkable decades-long career. It will give prominence to some of these pivotal works in the development of photography in Singapore, a history which is traditionally overlooked, and explore the timelessness and intricacy of his portraiture against the backdrop of a thriving social media photography scene today.

Chua Soo Bin is known for his ability to tell complex stories through his photographs. His portraits are sensitive and nuanced, built on his mastery of the medium and understanding of his subjects.

His skill is most clearly seen in his renowned Legends series. These definitive portraits of 14 Chinese ink masters such as Ye Qianyu, Lu Yanshao and Singaporean ink artist, Chen Wen Hsi offer a rare insight into the lives and personalities of these towering figures. This critically-acclaimed photographic series also earned Chua the Cultural Medallion in 1989, and highlighted the work of a Singaporean photographer to the rest of the world.

“Spotlighting the works of Singapore artists and educating the public of their artistic practices continue to be a priority for the Gallery. While photography has traditionally been under-researched in Singapore, it has played a significant role in our art history. The iconic works of Chua Soo Bin are excellent examples of the potential of photography as an art form. It has been exactly three decades since Legends was completed. We hope that this retrospective will raise awareness of Chua’s significant contributions to Singapore’s art scene as a photographer, a gallerist, art dealer and art patron. At the same time, visitors will be inspired to learn more about Singapore’s very own photographers and reflect on the changing role of photography,” said Dr Eugene Tan, Director of National Gallery Singapore.

Chua Soo Bin: Truths & Legends comprises three thematic sections. The first and largest part of the exhibition features the Legends photographs. Exhibiting alongside the portraits of the 14 ink masters is a selection of ink paintings by these artists, and notes by renowned Chinese art historian Liu Xilin, who knew these men personally. Collectively, they add a new dimension to the stories revealed in the portraits to enrich the viewing experience.

The second section delves into the candid and informal portraits taken by Chua of modern Chinese ink artist Wu Guanzhong, over two decades. These photographs reveal different aspects of Wu’s life, from his constant sketching to his vivacious personality and love for his family, as well as the rapport between artist and photographer.

The final section examines Chua’s life, from his early years in advertising to the many ways in which he has contributed to the art scene in Singapore. In addition to his earlier pictorial and commercial photographs alongside archival materials, visitors can also view a short 1989 documentary about Chua to trace the development of his art practice and learn more about his artistic process.

Chua Soo Bin: Truths & Legends is curated by Charmaine Toh from National Gallery Singapore. A series of complementary programmes through the course of the exhibition will also reflect the changing role of photography in today’s digital culture.

General admission applies for Chua Soo Bin: Truths & Legends. For more details, visit www.nationalgallery.sg/truthsandlegends