Singaporean artist Thomas Yeo is renowned for his abstract landscapes made with gouache or acrylic paint. Trained at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Yeo was mentored by pioneer artist Cheong Soo Pieng. After graduating in 1960, he furthered his education at Chelsea School of Art and Hammersmith College of Art and Architecture in London. During his time in the UK, Yeo experimented with various techniques and artistic mediums in his creative process. This is evident, for instance, in the use of mixed media collages in his early abstract works. Yeo’s works are vital to the development and history of modern art in Singapore.
Jumping Fish was created by rubbing a drawing material on an uneven surface on paper. By applying hard and light pressures through this process, Yeo creates various textures that evoke the imagery of a splashing fish. Besides these tactile qualities, the vibrant orange hue of the fish against the white backdrop demonstrates Yeo’s abstract sensibilities in choosing vibrant colours to convey the subjects’ energetic spirit. Orange is also a colour that frequently appears in his oeuvre.
