Two NAFA Undergraduates On Their Creative Journeys
It’s traditionally the time of year when tertiary institutions hold their graduation ceremonies. The talents here were all recommended by their respective design schools as the cream of the crop. What they all have in common: sharp ideas, soft power and zero interest in playing it safe. Here’s a look at each of their final‑year projects, or FYPs, as well as attitudes towards pursuing a life in the arts.
NG JIA XI, 28, BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONS) IN FINE ART, NANYANG ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
Blending installation and performance art, Ng Jia Xi’s practice explores identity, interconnectedness and social alienation, inviting audiences into immersive experiences that foster healing and reconnection amid the pace of modern life.
ABOUT HER FYP: “My final‑year project, 3456, is a performance installation that looks at how everyday gestures – especially the act of fixing – can help ease social alienation. I used transparent puzzle pieces as a metaphor for the Buddhist concept of sunyata, which suggests that everything is interconnected and that we have no fixed identity. This helped me reframe alienation as a temporary disconnection within a larger system. In inviting audiences to sit and fix the puzzle, the work becomes a quiet, healing experience. It encourages people to reconnect with themselves and those around them. The idea came from how fast‑paced life can be, and how we often forget to pause and really see one another.”
ON HER PRACTICE: “It mainly sits within installation and performance art. I often draw inspiration from the rhythms of life in Singapore and universal human experiences. I use my body as a vessel to explore these emotions, which makes my work more sensorial and immersive.”
ON THE SUPPORT SHE HOPES FOR YOUNG ARTISTS: “Open up more open calls to emerging artists. Create more competitions to get everyone’s fire pumping. We’re young and full of energy. Let us show
you what we can do!”
ON HANDLING POST‑GRADUATION UNCERTAINTY AND STRESS: “I’ll take things one step at a time. I’m still doing okay, as I already have an ongoing career as a dancer, but I’d like to pivot more towards fine arts. I’m really putting my faith in my path. Trust the process.”
WANN NURUL AFIQAH, 23, BACHELOR OF ARTS (HONS) IN FINE ART, NANYANG ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS
Wann Nurul Afiqah’s practice investigates the nuances of home and cultural identity through the lens of Malay heritage, especially examining the pressures and privileges tied to the anak emas, or “golden child”, figure. Her final‑year project, Belum Cukup Garam, uses three traditional Malay dance forms performed in repetition to embody the ongoing, exhausting pursuit of perfection, highlighting how this cycle gradually transforms the individual. Here, Afiqah shows us some moves.
ABOUT HER FYP: “My final‑year project is titled Belum Cukup Garam, which translates to ‘not enough salt’ – an old Malay saying that refers to a lack of experience. The work explores the never‑ending pursuit of perfection, particularly within the context of cultural and familial expectations, and takes the form of a performance featuring three traditional Malay dance forms, repeated again and again to reflect the exhausting, cyclical nature of that pursuit … By the end of the piece, a subtle shift occurs, signalling how the process itself has begun to shape and transform us.”
ON HER PRACTICE: “I often question what truly makes a home and what happens within that space … Much of it stems from my personal journey of reconnecting with my Malay identity, particularly through old sayings and phrases that carry deep meaning. I often focus on the figure of the anak emas (Malay for “golden child”), examining the privileges and pressures that come with occupying that position within the family. I’m also part of Anak Seni, a collective founded in 2023 and in which I collaborate with other young artists to bring art closer to communities and the public.”
ON THE SUPPORT SHE HOPES FOR YOUNG ARTISTS: “What would really help is more openness about the practical side of things – real‑world experiences we don’t always get taught in school, such as managing clients, working independently, or dealing with unexpected setbacks … It’s about building confidence as much as skills.”
BIGGEST SURPRISE AFTER COMPLETING SCHOOL: “Honestly, it’s the whole ‘what next’ phase. You find yourself torn between wanting to explore everything and feeling like you should commit to just one path … There isn’t always a clear goal or direction, and that uncertainty has definitely been the toughest part.”
PHOTOGRAPHY ANGELA GUO ART DIRECTION JONATHAN CHIA HAIR BENEDICT CHOO MAKEUP PRIS/AASTRAL BEAUTY
A version of this article first appeared in the July 2025 The Look Of Success Edition of FEMALE