Return of Singapore's Orchid Artist

HE hasn't set foot in Singapore for 23 years but now Tang Juey Lee is back on the local arts scene with a solo exhibition aptly titled Reunion, featuring 20 of his works.

Tang is a Malaysian but is known as "Singapore's Orchid Artist" because of his penchant for painting the flower. His popularity is such that he counts Britain's Queen Elizabeth II as a collector of his works.

"I like painting orchids because there are so many varieties," he explains.

"I love working with their colours, the palettes, and working out the compositions. Of course there is the challenge of capturing the life in them on paper."

His works, which were highly popular in the 1970s ("I have sold every painting I've done since I started painting"), are still in demand today.

Several of Tang's Singapore collectors have been waiting for his return. One of them, Raaj Siddhu, says: "His works are simple and aesthetically pleasing."

Reunion, says Tang, parallels what he feels is the enduring friendship between Singapore and Malaysia. A specially commissioned piece for the exhibition, titled Friendship, features both countries' national flowers - Malaysia's hibiscus and Singapore's Vanda Miss Joaquim.

Tang, 61, began painting in 1974, when he came to Singapore to study painting at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

His artworks have been collected by institutions such as the Singapore National Museum and Singapore Changi Airport as well as the Royal Collection of Saudi Arabia, among others. Tang has also been commissioned to do several paintings for hotels such as the Shangri-La Group and Royal Holiday Inn.

Why did it take 23 years for him to come back to Singapore?

Tang explains that he wanted to focus on the school he had set up in his hometown Johor Baru - the Raphael Academy of Art, Malaysia - as well as work on improving and developing his own skills.

"There is more light and shade in my paintings now; they look more 3D," he says. However, he insists that he stays true to his unique signature technique of "typical Chinese art meets Western style".

As for future plans, Tang has upcoming exhibitions in Melbourne and New York.

Tang Juey Lee's 27th solo exhibition, 'Reunion', presented by Jada Art Gallery, is on from June 13 to 22 at The Arts House. For more information, go to www.jadaart.sg