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Straits Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Artist and former curator of art at National Museum Choy Weng Yang dies at 95
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Artist-curator Choy Weng Yang (centre) with arts writer Teo Han Wue (left) and former National Library director of policy integration and research Lai Yeen Pong at Nanyang Gallery, in Bras Basah Complex. SINGAPORE – Second-generation artist Choy Weng Yang, who was the first art-practising art curator at the National Museum of Singapore from 1978 to 1985, died in Alexandra Hospital at 1.47am, Aug 7. He was 95. Choy, who was awarded a scholarship to study art in London in 1960, is best known for his abstract experimentation with colour. Among his most recognisable paintings is the hard-edged geometrical tessellation of Horizontals I (1977) in the National Gallery Singapore. In his later years, he suffered from heart and kidney issues, but still frequently visited Bras Basah Complex to discuss art with fellow artists and collectors. He continued sketching even in his hospital bed. His nephew theatre veteran Jeremiah Choy, 63, was his caregiver since before the pandemic. He said his uncle was hospitalised for a minor issue which escalated into a series of health episodes. 'My uncle was very independent and active. His mental faculty was still sharp,' he told The Straits Times. By Aug 1, his health had deteriorated: 'My cousin and I decided to opt for comfort rather than survival.' About his uncle, who was single, he said: 'He's very private. But a lot of people came to visit. He's well loved in the arts community. He was very kind and open. He would help whenever family and friends were in need. He was principled and always knew what he wanted.' Friends said Choy was always ready with a new thesis about the quality of art and that they, without fail, learnt much from him in their conversations. Former Singapore Art Museum director Kwok Kian Chow said it was Choy's 1980s presentation of the Singapore Pioneer Artists' series at the National Museum Art Gallery that cemented the place of Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng, Cheng Chong Swee and Liu Kang as defining artists in Singapore's art history. Choy also played a foundational role in building up the national art collection in its early years, negotiating with artists' – hard – to get them to donate works of quality to the country when they were selected for exhibitions. Mr Kwok said: 'As an artist, his approach was always practice-led. He not only painted, but also practised craft, design and so on. There was a deep sense of quality in how he selected works – it was his signature.' Choy famously did not own a phone, so friends in search of him waited in places where he frequented, such as in food centres near Stirling Road where he lived, and Nanyang Gallery in Bras Basah Complex. In his own art, Choy drew heavily from Western artists including the lilies of Claude Monet – inspiring his own lilies series – the colour theory of Josef Albers and the clean formal abstract composition of Piet Mondrian. But interpretations of his work should not be limited to these Western models, Mr Kwok said. 'I wouldn't be too concerned about the -isms. He was interested in colour, form, textures, and gestures. His paintings were a reflection of his whole life.' Choy Weng Yang's The River Series (2008). PHOTO: CAPE OF GOOD HOPE ART GALLERY Veteran arts journalist Teo Han Wue, who first met Choy while he was reporting on the nascent Singapore arts scene at the National Museum Art Gallery, said the artist-curator was always kind and generous with his knowledge. After he retired, he continued walking everywhere and made it a point to support artists at exhibition openings. As recently as 2024, South Korean gallery The Columns Gallery staged a solo of Choy's works, titled Colours Of Emotions: Choy Weng Yang. The exhibition of these more recent paintings from 2023 and 2024 were a restless display of dots, lines and spaces, dashed and daubed in a dervish whirlwind over whole canvases. Mr Teo said: 'It was a new phase of his career. I wish he had done more.' Born on July 12, 1930, Choy studied painting at the Hornsey College of Art in London and as an art teacher at the University of London Institute of Education on a Ministry of Education scholarship. Back in Singapore in 1963, he joined the Teachers' Training College as an assistant lecturer in the Arts & Crafts Department while continuing to paint and exhibit. He was the only one of his generation to receive a Unesco fellowship for the creative arts in 1973 and toured the United States. Singapore artist Wong Keen helped him settle in and arranged a visit to the studio of German-American bauhaus artist-educator Albers – a lasting influence. Choy Weng Yang (left) and Wong Keen in front of their pieces Radiant Lotuses and Lotus XX IN 2017. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG Choy then took on the role of curator of art at the National Museum of Singapore in 1978, where he also staged solos of international artists like Zao Wou-Ki and Henri Cartier-Bresson. These exhibitions are still cited by curators and artists for allowing those who had limited opportunity to travel to view international art, and for kickstarting Singapore's ambitions as a South-east Asian hub to see quality art. Choy stepped down in 1985 to return to his first love, painting, and tirelessly contributed to arts scholarship by writing on second-generation artists such as Anthony Poon and his friend Teo Eng Seng. (From left) Tan Teo Kwang, Teo Eng Seng, Choy Weng Yang and Yeo Hoe Koon whose works are on display at the exhibition, A Changed World: Singapore Art 1950s - 1970s. Pictured is Choy's Horizontals I (1977). ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG National Arts Council chief executive officer Low Eng Teong said he was deeply saddened by the passing of Choy, 'a pioneering artist, curator, arts writer and educator'. 'He left an indelible mark on our arts scene. Practising for more than six decades, his paintings and writings have resonated with many and inspired generations of artists. I will miss seeing him at exhibition openings, always with his thoughtful comments and warm smile,' Mr Low said. The National Gallery Singapore paid tribute in a LinkedIn post, noting that Choy's quiet generosity shaped generations and that he re-interpreted Western modernist traditions through a South-east Asian lens: 'He also championed the wider art community, supporting ground-up spaces, art societies and fellow artists – both his peers and younger talents.' Artist Boo Sze Yang visited Choy in hospital on Aug 2, and said the artist, when he was lucid, continued to be obsessed with art. Choy's nephew, Jeremiah, happened to be wearing a Mickey Mouse shirt and the artist, after a drink of water, immediately began sketching the scene with colour pencil and paper. Boo, Choy and artist-architect Kum Chee Kin were in the midst of planning a group exhibition – Abstract Across Generations – at The Private Museum, scheduled for the second quarter of 2026. Artist Wong Keen also paid tribute and said of Choy: 'A true artist and art lover – from beginning to end he held true to his singular passion. His thoughts were always on the composition.' Choy's wake is on level 2 of Singapore Casket from Aug 7 to 10. The funeral ceremony will be at 11am on Aug 10.
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Bangkok Post
Work on river tunnel for Purple Line extension begins
Tunnelling under the Chao Phraya River as part of the southern extension of the MRT Purple Line has begun and is slated for completion in May next year, according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. It is the second such tunnel under the river and marks significant progress in expanding Bangkok's mass transit infrastructure. Mr Suriya said construction work is already 60% complete, ahead of schedule. The section connecting Tao Poon and the National Library is expected to be operational by 2028, with full services across the entire route slated for 2030. The Purple Line's southern extension route spans 23.6 kilometres, stretching from Tao Pun to Rat Burana with 10 underground and seven elevated stations. It will integrate with the existing MRT Blue Line and Purple Line at the Tao Poon interchange, enhancing connectivity across the capital. He said the ministry has put heavy emphasis on safety during construction. The Rail Transport Department and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) have been directed to strictly follow safety protocols, manage traffic effectively, and implement flood prevention measures at construction sites. He said that environmental impacts are being closely monitored, with efforts underway to control dust and maintain air quality around the area. On the government's 20-baht flat fare policy for electric train rides, Mr Suriya said public registration for the scheme will open on Aug 25 via the "Tang Rat" mobile application. Starting on Oct 1, passengers will pay no more than 20 baht per trip on any of the eight electric train lines which operate in Bangkok and surrounding areas. The number of passengers is expected to increase to 250,000 per day, from the current 150,000. In June, the cabinet approved a flat-rate fare of 20 baht for all eight electric train lines in Bangkok available exclusively to Thai nationals.
L'Orient-Le Jour
7 days ago
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
5 years later, first initiative organized by Lebanese state on Aug. 4 'repercussions'
On the fifth anniversary of the deadly explosion at the Port of Beirut, a roundtable was held Sunday at the National Library in the Sanayeh neighborhood, initiated by the Culture and Social Affairs is the first time in five years that the Lebanese government has organized an event related to the tragedy to learn lessons and reflect on the disaster's impact on judicial, psychological, heritage and civic Aug. 4, 2020, 235 people died, over 7,000 were injured, and a large part of the Lebanese capital was destroyed. Here is what we know about the explosion's root What caused the Aug. 4 explosion? Remaining theories for a case still unsolved Five years later, no one has been prosecuted. After a long period of stagnation caused by political interference, the investigation is expected to produce initial...
Bangkok Post
7 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Work on Purple Line river tunnel begins
Tunnelling under the Chao Phraya River as part of the southern extension of the MRT Purple Line has begun and is slated for completion in May next year, according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit. It is the second such tunnel under the river and marks significant progress in expanding Bangkok's mass transit infrastructure. Mr Suriya said construction work is already 60% complete, ahead of schedule. The section connecting Tao Poon and the National Library is expected to be operational by 2028, with full services across the entire route slated for 2030. The Purple Line's southern extension route spans 23.6 kilometres, stretching from Tao Pun to Rat Burana with 10 underground and 7 elevated stations. It will integrate with the existing MRT Blue Line and Purple Line at the Tao Poon interchange, enhancing connectivity across the capital. He said the ministry has put heavy emphasis on safety during construction. The Rail Transport Department and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) have been directed to strictly follow safety protocols, manage traffic effectively, and implement flood prevention measures at construction sites. He said that environmental impacts are being closely monitored, with efforts underway to control dust and maintain air quality. On the government's 20-baht flat fare policy for electric train rides, Mr Suriya said public registration for the scheme will open on Aug 25 via the "Tang Rat" mobile application. Starting on Oct 1, passengers will pay no more than 20 baht per trip on any of the eight electric train lines which operate in Bangkok and surrounding areas. The number of passengers is expected to increase to 250,000 per day, from currently 150,000. In June the cabinet approved a flat-rate fare of 20 baht for all eight electric train lines in Bangkok available exclusively to Thai nationals.
Roya News
7 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Beirut renames street to honor victims on port blast's fifth anniversary
On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the devastating Beirut Port explosions, a segment of Charles Hélou Avenue near one of the port entrances was renamed 'August 4 Victims Street' in a ceremony honoring those who lost their lives. The renaming followed a request by the victims' families and took place on Sunday, attended by key Lebanese officials and relatives of the deceased. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, and family members of the victims participated in the event. Speaking at the ceremony, Salam emphasized the government's commitment to justice, calling for an end to political interference in the investigation. "We will not compromise on justice or truth," Salam declared. "No one is above the law in the Beirut port explosion case. We will not yield on this issue because truth is the foundation of justice." He added, "There will be no justice until the full truth is revealed," reaffirming the government's pledge to pursue accountability. Earlier that day, Culture Minister Ghassan Salamé announced that the heavily damaged silos at Beirut Port, ravaged in the 2020 blast and subject to subsequent fires in 2022, were officially registered as historic monuments. A roundtable discussion at the National Library in Sanayeh, organized with the Ministry of Social Affairs, addressed the ongoing repercussions of the disaster. At the event, Prime Minister Salam reiterated that "every person responsible will be held accountable." In the lead-up to the anniversary, political, religious, and social leaders voiced strong demands for justice and condemned the persistent impunity surrounding the case. The August 4, 2020 explosions killed 235 people, injured more than 7,000, and caused widespread destruction in Beirut. Despite the tragedy's scale, no officials have been prosecuted to date, due in large part to political interference in the investigation led by Judge Tarek Bitar.
