Drawing inspiration from objects, architecture, urban landscapes and even destructive scenes, Singaporean artist Boo Sze Yang interprets these subject matters as metaphors for symbols of contemporary life. In 1991, Boo graduated with a Diploma in Fine Art from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and became an artist known for his gestural and monochromatic painting techniques. He went on to pursue his postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art from the University of Reading, UK, in 1995 and obtained his Master of Arts Degree at the University of the Arts London in 2004. Boo was the Head of the Fine Art Department at NAFA from 2008 to 2009 before becoming a full-time artist.
12 Apostles is a composite work of 12 square canvases in a 4-by-3 grid. This work departs from Boo’s Angkor Wat and House of God series. Drawing comparisons between the functions of the humble plastic stool and a cathedral, Boo suggests that both provide support and a means of rest for the weary, exhausted and jaded. The visual resemblances between the arches of the stool and the cathedral truly compel the viewers to ponder deeply about similarities in seemingly contrasting objects.
