Introduction

A visionary artist who made history, this exhibition celebrates Lai Foong Moi, the first Malayan-born woman to hold a solo art exhibition in Singapore.

Born in 1931 in Malaya, Lai studied Western Painting at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in Singapore. She then continued her arts studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 1959, she returned to Malaya and began painting portraits, scenes of labour and everyday life. Lai was working during a period of major political and social changes, from the years leading up to Malaya’s independence from British rule in 1957 to Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965. Yet many of her works do not convey that urgency directly. They turn instead to quieter moments.

Lai’s early exhibitions drew strong public interest. As one of the few women artists practising at this time, her work gained public attention. She was noted as the first Malayan-born woman to hold solo exhibitions in Singapore and Malaya. Her success becoming a sign of progress in the changing landscape.

In spite of the initial interest in her work, Lai stepped back from exhibiting in the mid-1960s. She turned to teaching at NAFA. Her public presence began to decline.

Bringing together artworks and archival materials, this exhibition offers a rare glimpse into Lai’s life, an artist who is lesser known compared to her contemporaries. As you move through the exhibition, consider what kind of an artist she was. How do her works reflect Singapore’s changing social and cultural conditions?