Name CHNG SEOK TIN Occupation Artist, Writer, Songwriter Birth Place Singapore Gender Female Citizenship Singapore Citizen Studio Address Studio 110, 91 Lorong J, Telok Kurau Road, Singapore 425985 Email [email protected] Homepage www.chngseoktin.com Biography of Artist-Writer-Lyricist Hyphenate Chng Seok Tin did her studies in art in Singapore, UK, France and USA, from 1971 to 1985; she obtained two master degrees from New Mexico State University and The University of Iowa, in USA, majoring in printmaking. From 1986 onwards, she taught printmaking at tertiary level for a decade in Singapore. Seok Tin never restricts her practice to creating prints; her creative works include drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, textile, photography, ceramic, sculpture and installation. In 1988, she had a fall which resulted in brain abscess a month later. She had to undergo major surgeries from which she emerged with near loss of vision. Thereafter Seok Tin focused more on mixed media and sculptural works. Her works deal with nature, social and human conditions. Seok Tin has held 30 solo exhibitions and participated in more than 120 group exhibitions in Singapore and abroad including Asia, Europe and USA. She was the first artist to receive the Woman of the Year 2001 awarded by Her World magazine, Singapore. In 2005, she was awarded highest artistic honour, the Cultural Medallion by the President, Singapore. In 2014, she was inducted into Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame in its inaugural year. As a writer, Seok Tin is also an established writer, her articles have appeared in the national Chinese newspaper and magazines since 1975 in Asia and China. She has published 13 books, most adorned with her own illustrations. In 2007, Singapore Literature Society honored her with their Singapore Chinese Literary Award by the Singapore Literature Society. 1 As a songwriter, In 1992 & 1995, her lyrics to songs represented Singapore in the Wataboshi Asia Festival. Education 1953 - 1958: Primary education at Pin Ghee School, Singapore 1959 - 1962: Government Secondary IV School Certificate (Chinese), Chung Cheng High School, Singapore 1963 - 1964: Government Higher School Certificate (Chinese), Chung Cheng High School, Singapore 1966 - 1968: Certificate in Education, Teachers’ Training College, Singapore 1971: In-Service Course: Graphic Design (Chinese Medium), Teachers' Training College, Singapore 1972: In-Service Course: Ceramic Art (Chinese Medium), Teachers' Training College, Singapore 1970 - 1971: Diploma in Western Painting Course (Charcoal Drawing, Water Colour and Oil Painting), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore 1971 - 1973: Advanced Practical English Course, Second Language Training Centre, Singapore 1973: Special Teaching Course, Chinese at Secondary Level, Ministry of Education and the Teachers' Training College, Singapore 1974 - 1975: Diploma in Commercial Art, The World Correspondence School, Hong Kong 1975 - 1976: Foundation Studies in Fine Arts, St. Martin School of Arts, London, UK 1976 - 1979: Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts (First Class Honours), Hull College of Higher Education, Hull, UK, studied under renown printmaker and printmaking books author, Walter Chamerlain 1980: Post-Graduate Study, Advanced Printmaking, Hornsey College of Art, Middlesex Polytechnic, UK 1980 - 1981: Studied Intaglio and Engraving under legendary printmaker S. W. Hayter at his Atelier 17 studio, Paris, France 1981 - 1983: Master of Arts, Major in Printmaking,New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA 1983 - 1985: Master of Fine Arts (Honours), Major in Printmaking, The University of Iowa, Iowa, USA, under noted printmaker Professor Lasanky. 2 Employment History (Year) (Event/Activity, Location) 1965 Teacher-in-Training, Chong Hua Primary School Teacher, Singapore 1966 - 1975 Teacher for “Chinese as a Second Language”, Tanjong Katong Girls’ School, Singapore 1979 Teacher (Art & Crafts), Rangoon Secondary School, Singapore 1981 Teacher (Art & Crafts and Geography), MacPherson Secondary School, Singapore 1981 - 1983 Teaching Assistant in Printmaking, Art Department, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA 1985 Research Assistant, Rental Gallery, School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA 1985 - 1986 Assistant Art Editor, Joint Publishing Company (Hong Kong Branch), Hong Kong 1986 - 1988 Lecturer in Studio Drawing and Printmaking, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore 1986 - 1995 Lecturer in Printmaking, La Salle/ LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore 1993 - 1997 Lecturer in Printmaking, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Solo Exhibitions (Year) (Event/Activity, Location) 1979 ‘An Exhibition of Fine Prints by Chng Seok Tin’, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore 1981 ‘An Exhibition of Works by Chng Seok Tin’, British Council Exhibition Hall, Singapore 1982 ‘Installations and Prints by Chng Seok Tin’, Little Gallery, Corbett Centre, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, USA 1984 ‘Prints & Drawings by Seok Chng’, Eve Drewlowe Gallery, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA 1985 ‘Seok Chng: Prints/drawings’ (Part of Project Art – The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics), Boyd Tower East Lobby, University of Iowa, Iowa, USA 1985 ‘A Retrospective Exhibition (1981-85) of Prints, Drawings & Fiber Art by Seok Chng’, Iowa International Center, Iowa, USA 1985 ‘Prints by Chng Seok Tin’, American Cultural Center, Taipei, Taiwan 1987 ‘From Water Series to the Floating World: An Exhibition of Recent Original Fine Prints and Mixed Media Works by Chng Seok Tin’, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore 1989 ‘Works by Chng Seok Tin’, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore 1989 - 1990 ‘SEOK TIN CHNG — Prints/Mixed Media Works’, Posterngate Gallery, City of Hull Museums and Art Galleries, Hull, UK 1990 ‘Recent Prints by Chng Seok Tin’, Faculty of Art and Design, University of Ulster at Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK 1990 ‘Exhibition of Prints by Chng Seok Tin’, Howard Salon Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan 1992 ‘Games’ (Recent Monotypes and Etchings by Chng Seok Tin), d.p. Fong and Spratt Galleries, San Jose, California, USA 1993 ‘Games’, (Recent Drawings, Prints, Mixed Medias and Sculptures by Chng Seok Tin), National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore 1994 ‘Life: Chng Seok Tin Prints Exhibition’, Cosmos Gallery, Cosmos Book Ltd, Hong Kong 3 1996 ‘Metamorphosis: Recent Sculpture, Print and Mixed Media Works by Chng Seok Tin’ (part of ‘Singapore Festival of Arts 1996’), National Arts Council and Very Special Arts Singapore, Fort Canning Arts Centre, Singapore 2001 ‘Attachments and Detachments: A Chinese Obsession’ (Mixed-Media Painting and Paper Sculpture Exhibition), Utterly Art, Gallery Evason Hotel, Singapore 2001 ‘Life, Like Chess’ (An exhibition of installation, mixed media and sculptures), Sculpture Square, Singapore 2003 ‘Frames, within and without’ (Installations and Drawings), Utterly Art Gallery, Singapore 2004 ‘Sound of Vermont’ (Prints and Drawings), Art-2 Gallery, Singapore 2005 ‘Reflections of Paris’ (Prints by Chng Seok Tin), Orita.Sinclair.Int’l – Front Room Gallery, Singapore 2005 ‘Frames Within & Without II’, (Installations and Drawings). The Cone, Esplanade- Theatres by the Bay, Singapore, by Invitation 2005 ‘Passage to…: Exhibition of Fine Prints 1988-2005 by Chng Seok Tin’, UN Secretariat South Lounge, New York, USA – honoured to be first Singapore artist to exhibit here 2006 ‘Evolution of Kim-chiam: From Dried Lily Bud to “Rolling Red Dust” (1980-2006)’, Telok Kurau Studios Gallery, Singapore 2007 ‘Wonders of Golden Needles’ (Part of ‘Huayi-Chinese Festival of Arts’), Jendela Gallery, Esplanade-Theatres by the Bay, Singapore Flyer 2007 ‘Passion for Art – 35 Years (1971-2007) of Works by Visual Artist Chng Seok Tin’, Museum of Fine Arts (Cultural Affairs Bureau of Hsinchu County) and the Cultural Affairs Bureau of Kinmen County, Taiwan. flyer 2008 ‘Before & After…: Works by Chng Seok Tin’ (part of ‘Arts of Female’ Special Exhibition, in Celebration of Mother’s Day), Tainan County Cultural Center, Tainan County Government Cultural Affairs Department, Taiwan. flyer 2008 ‘Rolling Red Dust’ (part of ‘Spotlight: An Asian Festival of Inclusive Arts’), French Cultural Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Solo show in group event) 2011 Uncommon Wisdom - Works by Chng Seok Tin from 1966-2011 NAFA gallery 1, 2, Singapore. 2013 Chng Seok Tin ‘one of the greatest printmakers in Singapore’ Alliance Francaise de Singapour, SG Private Banking Gallery 2014 Clouds Gather, Clouds Disperse Art-2 Gallery Singapore 2014 Once Upon a Time – Drypoint Prints by Chng Seok Tin (1999-2013) NUSS Guild House Group Exhibitions (Year) (Event/Activity, Location) 1977 ‘Royal Overseas League Annual Exhibition’, London, UK 1977 - 1979 Lincolnshire & Humberside Art Gallery, Lincoln, UK 1979 ‘Winter Exhibition’, Ferens Gallery, Hull, UK 1979 ‘Students’ Works Exhibition’, Leeds Polytechnic, Leeds, UK 1979 ‘Fine Art Degree Students Final Exhibition’, School of Fine Art, Hull College of Higher Education, Hull, UK 1979 - 1980 ‘ART 79’, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore 4 1982 ‘Unity in Diversity 2’ (A Juried Art Exhibition Sponsored by the Organization of Women Artists), University Art Gallery, William Hall, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA 1983 ‘Masters' Thesis Exhibition’, William Hall Gallery, Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA 1983 Anne Goodman Gallery, Art Consulting, Marina Del Rey, California, USA 1983 - 1984 ‘International Print Exhibit: 1983 ROC’ (Biennial Exhibition), Taipei City Museum, Taipei, Taiwan 1984