Golden Emperor
H120xW70cm
Acrylic Painting, Silkscreen Printing, Flocking, Gold Foiling & Stitchwork on Canvas
The Shophouse artwork is reflective of Singapore culture and heritage. Shophouse buildings can be found all over the island. These stately buildings are a wonderful expression of the blending of a work and living space. Shophouse ornamentation draws inspiration from Malay, Chinese, European and Peranakan traditions. Painting the facade pastel colours became popular in the mid 20th century, and these colours have remained strongly associated with the image of the Singaporean Shophouse.
The story of European explorers arriving on the tropical island of Singapore with all its beautiful flora and fauna is spoken of through this artwork.
The photograph used in this artwork of a row of well-preserved Peranakan Shophouses was taken at Koon Seng Road, Joo Chiat, Singapore.