This Singapore Artist's Paintings Sold Out At His First Solo Show
From photography to design production, curating galleries to setting up modern creative communes – a group of Singaporeans are carving out names and niches in the art and design industries (or in some cases, both). Here's why Luke Heng is one to watch.
Luke Heng’s minimalist paintings are “anti-Instagram” – they stand out precisely because they’re the antithesis to today’s filter-happy feeds. His paintings may look deceivingly simple, but they can take up to 20 to 30 coats of paint to execute (and not just one app).
White On Blue No. 2 (2016), oil on linen
The reason behind such intensive labour? To Heng, 29, the process of creating an artwork is as (if not more) important as the final product, and this stems from his personal philosophy. He says: “When you look at the works, I hope that your mind switches to a slower pace, a more calming space – your mind is in a different plane in contrast to your physical body.”
Composition No. 7 (2016), colour pigment on mild steel.
Heng’s paintings seem to have resonated with buyers and curators. In 2015, two years after graduating from Lasalle College of the Arts-Goldsmiths, he held his first solo exhibition, The Waiting Room, at the Fost Gallery with the support of gallery founder Stephanie Fong. It turned out to be a blockbuster success with nearly every piece sold. He staged a second successful solo show, Royal Stanza, in Paris at Galerie Isabelle Gounod (which represents him in France) just last year.
Photography Jasper Yu Art Direction Kim Wong Hair & Grooming Christian Maranion/27A
This story first appeared in Female's January 2017 issue.
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