MR PETER CHEN (OC31)
Winner - CDL Singapore Sculpture Award 2003
Title of Work: Reed Sculpture
The competition brief of wind and water triggered an idea that Mr Peter Chen, 35, had for a kinetic sculpture i.e. one that actively or passively responds to the elements of wind and water and not just representations of it. As the idea developed, one of his main challenges was in trying to define this experience for the observer and the other challenge was the form itself. The inspiration was finally derived from wind chimes and material studies, and through this, the concept of a reed or river reeds was adopted.
An architect by training, Mr Chen is also a lecturer and director of studies of the Interior Design program at Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts.
MR CHUA BOON KEE (OC26)
1st Runner-up
Merit Award – Judges’ Choice
Title of Work: Feng Shui
A full-time sculptor involved in sculpture creation and fabrication projects, 50-year old Chua Boon Kee also participates in the National Arts Council – Ministry of Education’s “Artist-in-School” program.
The CDL Singapore Sculpture Award is only Mr Chua’s second foray into a competition, having previously taken part in the 1990 Sentosa Flower Terrace Sculpture Competition where he picked up one of five awards.
The inspiration for his winning entry came from employing the Chinese calligraphic sculpture form to contain the symbolic meanings of the wind and water elements.
MS FOO VAN JEAN (OC 27)
Merit Award – Most Creative Use of Materials
Title of Work: Life Force
Encouraged by her school to participate, Foo Van Jean, 18, thinks that as a student, it is important to stretch one’s abilities and fulfil one’s self through competition.
Combining the interpretation of wind and water in a different and dynamic way, while keeping the model true to the original concept was a challenge for Foo Van Jean, who was inspired by shimmering waves, seagull imagery and the playfulness of bubbles for her unusual maquette. She counts music, basketball and travelling as her hobbies.
MR WEI TIAN FANG (OC60)
Merit Award – Innovative Craftsmanship
Title of Work: Water and Wind
A 2nd year fine arts student at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Wei Tian Fang, 22, saw this competition as an opportunity to learn and gain experience while at the same time learn about his weaknesses and strengths.
His sculpture is an inspiration from a Tang Dynasty Poem and translated into symbols of the two different elements of wind and water.
MS SEO CHIAU LING (SC39)
Winner – CDL Youth Sculpture Award 2003
Title of Work: In Search of the Wind
Ms Seo Chiau Ling, 21, is a full time student at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art and is another newcomer to sculpture competitions. Inspired by sail boats, waves and the forms made by the wind, Ms Seo heard about the competition from a lecturer and decided to take part for exposure. She says that the most daunting task she faced was to weld the metal pieces of her sculpture together.
In her free time, she dabbles in painting and drawing as well as playing the guitar.
MR ZHANG JIN PENG (SC40)
1st Runner-up
Merit Award – Judges’ Choice (Student)
Title of Work: Waves Intertwined
Zhang Jin Peng is a 23 year-old student at Laselle-SIA College of Fine Art and is currently pursuing a diploma in visual arts from the School of Fine Art (Jewellery). A Chinese national, he has only participated in jewellery design competitions before, and submitted an entry for the CDL competition after being informed by a lecturer.
A sculpture lover, Mr Zhang cites the surf and sea breeze as the inspirations for his entry titled ‘Waves Intertwined’.
IRMAWATI TUBI (SC97)
Merit Award – Most Creative Use of Materials (Student)
Title of Work: Spiral Current
Having heard about the CDL-Singapore Sculpture Award through her school, 20 year old NAFA student Irmawati Tubi decided to give it a go as she thought it might be good exposure for herself. Her piece called “Spiral Current” is made up of nails and screws welded together, which formed the inspiration for her work. A tedious and time-consuming process, thoughts of giving up flashed through her mind as she thought it would be impossible to create the form she visualised, but her efforts have been rewarded with her merit award for creative use of materials.
She has previously taken part in other sculpture contests and painting competitions picking up merit awards on a couple of occasions. In her free time, she likes to listen to music and get involved in art workshops.
MS TSUI SUK MAN (SC38)
Merit Award – Innovative Craftsmanship (Student)
Title of Work: Water Dance
At 32, Tsui Suk Man was one of the oldest students in the Student Category of the Sculpture Award. A first-year full-time student at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art, she was introduced to the competition by one of her teachers and hasn’t looked back since.
A Hong Kong native, Tsui Suk Man says that the biggest challenge to her in this competition was to be creative and stand out from the rest of the participants. In order to do so, she chose a material that was non-conventional and different – glass and glass beads. Coming from a territory where Feng Shui reigns supreme, it was a natural progression for Ms Tsui to borrow ideas from the practice for her sculpture design.