Artist Choy Weng Yang Laid the Foundation for Singapore Art

Second-generation artist Choy Weng Yang, who was the first art-practising art curator at the National Museum of Singapore from 1978 to 1985, died in Alexandra Hospital on Aug 7. He was 95.

- Clement Yong

Choy, who was awarded a scholarship to study art in London in 1960, is best known for his abstract experimentation with colour.

Among his most recognisable paintings is the hard-edged geometrical tessellation of Horizontals I (1977) in the National Gallery Singapore.

In his later years, he suffered from heart and kidney issues, but still frequently visited Bras Basah Complex to discuss art with fellow artists and collectors. He continued sketching even in his hospital bed.

His nephew, theatre veteran Jeremiah Choy, 63, had been his caregiver since before the Covid-19 pandemic. He said his uncle was hospitalised for a minor issue which escalated into a series of health episodes.

"My uncle was very independent and active. His mental faculty was still sharp," he told The Straits Times. By Aug 1, his health had deteriorated. "My cousin and I decided to opt for comfort rather than survival."

About his uncle, who was single, he said: "He's very private. But a lot of people came to visit. He's well loved in the arts community. He was very kind and open. He would help whenever family and friends were in need. He was principled and always knew what he wanted."

Friends said Choy Weng Yang was always ready with a new thesis about the quality of art and that they, without fail, learnt much from him in their conversations.

Former Singapore Art Museum director Kwok Kian Chow said it was Choy's 1980s presentation of the Singapore Pioneer Artists' series at the National Museum Art Gallery that cemented the place of Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng, Cheng Chong Swee and Liu Kang as defining artists in Singapore's art history.

Choy also played a foundational role in building up the national art collection in its early years, negotiating with artists—hard—to get them to donate works of quality to the country when they were selected for exhibitions.