Stepping Forward: Nanyang Today
An Exhibition of Works by Singaporean and Malaysian NAFA Alumni Exhibition Held at WKSGM

Forty-three Singaporean and Malaysian artists showcased their artworks in an exhibition entitled “Stepping Forward: Nanyang Today – An Exhibition of Works by Singaporean and Malaysian NAFA Alumni” at the Soka Exhibition Hall of Wisma Kebudayaan SGM from August 13 to 28, 2011. Jointly-organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) and Club NAFA with the support of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and NAFA Alumni Association Malaysia, the exhibition was officiated by Y.B. Dato’ Teng Chang Khim, Speaker of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly on August 13, 2011.

In his speech, Dato’ Teng believed that the time has come for us to promote culture and the arts and support the artists by admiring and collecting artworks. He also said that the lack of artists and the public’s lack of appreciation of art was a sign of an imbalance in the development and education system of the country.

Over sixty artworks were displayed, featuring works in various mediums and subject matters, reflecting the evolvement in the passing of times, cultural landscapes and new developments in society. In the artists’ responses to these changes, some works clearly display the Nanyang style of painting as introduced by the founding principal of NAFA while others are explorations of new techniques, mediums and styles. NAFA was the first arts institution in Southeast Asia and since its establishment in 1938, it has produced numerous outstanding artists, including Tew Nai Tong, Chung Chen Sun and Yeo Eng Hin.

In conjunction with the opening, an art talk entitled “A Contemporary Approach of Nanyang Style” was held. The speakers were Mr Choo Thiam Siew, the president of NAFA, Bridget Tracy Tan, director of the Institute of Southeast Asian Arts and Art Galleries of NAFA and Mr Lok How Yuan, lecturer in Art History.