New Generation Artist: Murals of Yip Yew Chong

Every generation tell stories and depicts life through art in different ways. The current generation of artists in Singapore include Yip Yew Chong.

An accountant by profession, Yew Chong has only been active in the mural-painting scene since 2015 but his works of homage to heritage can already be viewed all around Singapore. The Lomography team had a chance to interview him.

Tell us more about how your journey as an artist started.

It happened in August 2015 when I was taking a break from 20 years of work in finance. I wanted to take a break to try different things including painting and film-making. In 2014, I chanced upon a mural at Victoria Stree painted by Ernest Zacharavic, the renowed Penang-base mural artist, and I wanted to give mural painting a try. I spotted a suitable perimeter wall of a house at Everton Road near my home. I managed to contact and persuade the owner to let me paint on his house wall despite I have no portfolio to show him – by promising to whitewash the painting if he didn’t like it. The rest is history.

What/Who are the biggest influences in your craft?

Memories of my childhood in Singapore’s old Chinatown, travel and life experiences are the biggest inspiration and influence to the murals.

How would you describe your style as an artist?

I normally call myself an ‘Accountant’ before an ‘Artist’ as I work 5 days in finance and 2 days in art. I am untrained in art and developed my style through trial and error. As the subject is normally about past memories and imaginary scenes, I try to paint them as realistic as possible (versus abstract) so that the audience can relate to their own memories. They are also normally life-sized to make them more realistic and interactive. I was told my colours are earthy (reflects nostalgia) and the figures are cartoonish. My brushstrokes were initially fine, contemplative and careful but over time, have become prompt and bolder.

For you, what is success?

Success to me is the warm appreciation and recognition by the public.

Which of your work is your favorite so far? Why?

“Home” in Tiong Bahru is my favourite mural, as I really feel at home looking at it. I even penned a poem next to it.

Any tips on how to develop your skills and keen eye as an artist?

Grab opportunities to experience different things as much as possible, immerse in the experience, observe the details of each scene experienced that create the mood, eg. the objects, the posture and facial expression, the lighting, the overall composition. Capture these scenes as a “visual” in the mind and express them from memories on the wall.

Please give links to your website/social media accounts which we can go to if we want to stay updated on your work.

My website is www.yipyc.com. You may also view my work through Instagram and Facebook.

written by Crisselda Robles on 2017-03-13 #culture #people #singapore #murals #yip-yew-chong #new-artist