A critique of tough times

An upcoming exhibition at National Gallery Singapore features works inspired by turbulent periods in history

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

Three small, deformed sculptures by second-generation Singapore artist Teo Eng Seng are easy to miss amid the visual clamour of the National Gallery Singapore's Awakenings exhibition - a showcase of more than 140 provocative works by Asian artists such as Japanese-American Yoko Ono and Singaporean Tang Da Wu.

Yet, Teo's rarely seen cuboid works - made more than 30 years ago from plaster of Paris coated with silver paint and shoe polish - will likely weigh on the minds of those who take the time to view them.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on June 11, 2019, with the headline A critique of tough times. Subscribe