Family (reworked into Family and One)

Five carved wooden planks lean against each other, each supporting another to create a seemingly uninterruptable balance. Together, they encircle the space between them.

Chong Fah Cheong is considered one of Singapore’s pioneer sculptors. A self-taught artist, Chong began his career as an art lecturer at the LASALLE College of the Arts during its establishment in 1984. His artistic style varies from the abstract to the figurative, and explores a wide range of concepts, such as social issues concerning class and social relations. He also works with diverse materials, including wood, metal and stone. The planks in this sculpture are made of teak wood, a weather-resistant material native to Southeast Asia.

Initially titled Family, Chong reworked this sculpture into Family and One by adding a fifth plank with rounded edges and a distinctly organic form. This differently shaped plank expanded on his notion of family.

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