Singapore - Singapore Art Museum (SAM) is proud to receive the donation of 23 important works by late artist Anthony Poon, Singapore’s important abstract artist.  The works range from the late 1960s to 2005 and include 3 sculptures, 2 wall reliefs and 18 paintings.  SAM currently has 15 works by the late artist in its permanent collection.  This donation represents a notable addition to SAM collection of Singapore artists, and forms a strong representation of the artist’s practice.  Artist’s last wish for SAM to own his best works.

Best known for his ‘Wave’ paintings, the Cultural Medallion recipient was recently commissioned to create a sculpture for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.  A frequent participant in local and international group shows, he had held many solo exhibitions.  His accolades include the first prize of UOB Painting of the Year (1983) and 1991 Cultural Medallion Award.

A prolific and successful artist in his lifetime with numerous local and international public commissions to his name, the painter and sculptor had many of his large-scale, site-specific sculptures, reliefs and painting on display in outdoor public spaces and corporate interiors.  His meticulously executed pieces are keenly sought by collectors, and represented in public and private collections around the world, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Washington D. C. USA, Fukuoka Art Museum, National Library Board, United Overseas Bank Art Collection, and private collectors from People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and U.K.

Says Mr Kwok Kian Chow, “Since SAM’s establishment in 1996, SAM has been consistently supporting Singapore artists through acquiring their works for the Singapore Art Museum’s permanent collection, through presenting their works in exhibitions and through undertaking research, scholarship, publication and documentation.  Ten of the 15 Anthony Poon works in the Museum’s current collection since the 1990s were acquired, with the rest being donated.  Hence, this donation from the family of the late Anthony Poon notably enhances the Museum’s collection of the late artist’s work.”

To mark this occasion, a Donation Ceremony will be held on 25 January (Thursday) at 10.30am, SAM, with Professor Tommy Koh, Chairman of National Heritage Board as the guest-of-honour.  Some of the donated works will be on display at SAM during the event.

Adds Mr Kwok Kian Chow, Director of SAM, “We are pleased to be the recipient of such a significant donation.  We understand that it was the late artist’s wish for his best works to be part of the Singapore Art Museum collection. We would like to acknowledge the Poon Family for their generosity as art patrons, and to thank them for supporting SAM’s vision.  SAM has been actively collecting important works by Singapore artists, and Anthony Poon is a key second generation artist who was in the forefront of abstract art in his lifetime.”

“Second-generation” broadly refers to the group of artists who were active in the Singapore art scenes of the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, and who have been instrumental in shaping the development of art in Singapore.  Artists of that generation, which include Anthony Poon, explored medium and thought in innovative and meaningful ways.  Inspired and encouraged by pioneer artists like Georgette Chen, Cheong Soo Pieng and Chen Wen Hsi who were excellent artists and passionate educators, many of our second generation artists went abroad to further their studies, returning to Singapore in the late 1960s.  Filled with new ideas and fired by enthusiasm, they ushered in the 1970s – an era that can be considered the most vibrant decade for visual art in Singapore, marked by experimentation in which new styles are developed and old aesthetics are reinterpreted, as can be seen in the works by Anthony Poon.

A selection of Anthony Poon’s works will be featured at SAM in the second installation of Art of Our Time starting April 2007.  In addition, there are plans to publish an extensive monograph as well as stage a comprehensive retrospective exhibition – the first of its kind – of the artist in 2009, for his notable contributions to Singapore visual art development and in remembrance of his passing.  Artist biography is appended.

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