Hong Sek Chern

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Biography

Hong Sek Chern is the Head of Programme of the Diploma in Fine Art in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Singapore. She holds a Master of Arts in Southeast Asian Studies from the National University of Singapore and a Masters of Fine Art from Goldsmiths College, University of London. She was the recipient of the National Arts Council Young Artist Award Visual Arts 2000, the prestigious President’s Young Talent Award 2001 and has won numberous top prizes and notable mentions in regional art competitions including the Philip Morris Asean Arts Awards and the UOB Painting of the Year. In 2002, she was Singapore’s representative in the 25th Sao Paulo Biennale, held in Brazil.

She has been painting interior and exterior spaces of local architecture using Chinese Ink for nine years. In July 2007, she won the 26th UOB Painting Of The Year (POY) Competition. Using traditional Chinese painting media, her painting Aspects Of The City II was singled out from among over 1,100 entries submitted by about 800 participants for the prestigious POY Award. Hong Sek Chern is sensitive to painterly surfaces and affected by the world around her, and hopes that what she creates allows her to think about the world, its people and herself. At the same time, she hopes to share the beautiful surfaces she creates so that others can ponder and reflect.

EDUCATION
1998 Master of Fine Art, Goldsmiths College - University of London (Under the Chen Chong Swee Overseas Art Scholarship), London, United Kingdom.
1995 Diploma in Fine Art, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore.
1990 Diploma in Education, Institute of Education, Singapore.
1989 Bachelor of Science, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
Sao Paolo Biennial, a Group Exhibition, Parque Ibirapuera Biennial Exhibition Hall, Sao Paolo, Brazil, 2002.
9th International Drawing and Print Exhibit, a Group Exhibition, Taipei Fine Art Museum, China, 2001.
Different Eye Different View, a Group Exhibition, Artfolio Gallery, Singapore, 2000.
15th Asian International Arts Exhibition, a Group Exhibition, Tainan Country Cultural Affairs Bureau, China, 2000.
NAFA’s Lecturers’ Show, a Group Exhibition, NAFA Art Gallery, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore, 1999.
ASEAN Art Awards 99, a Group Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1999.
Hexagon - Drawing Exhibition, a Group Exhibition, Telok Kurau Studios Gallery, Singapore, 1999.
Modern Monuments, a Solo Exhibition, Telok Kurau Studios Gallery, Singapore, 2000.
Secretary, Sculpture Society, Singapore, 2000 - Present.
Secretary, Telok Kurau Studios Management Committee, Singapore, 2000 - 2001.
Member, Modern Art Society, Singapore, 1998 - Present.
Lecturer, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore, 1998 - Present.
Education Officer, Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore, 1990 - 1992.

AWARDS
Painting of the Year, 2007 , United Oveseas Bank (UOB) group
Young Artist Award, National Arts Council (NAC), Singapore, 2000.
1st Prize (Representational Category), 18th Painting of the Year Competition, The United Overseas Bank (UOB) Group, Singapore, 1999.
Honourable Mention (2 awards), 1999 Singapore Turf Club Art Competition, Singapore, 1999.
Top Prize, Philippe Charriol Foundation Contemporary Art Competition 1995/6, Singapore, 1996.
Juror’s Choice / Prize: Singapore Art Awards 96, 98 and 99, The Philip Morris Group of Companies, Singapore, 1996, 1998 and 1999.
Chen Chong Swee Overseas Art Scholarship, Chen Chong Swee Foundation and National Arts Council (NAC), Singapore, 1996.