The 27th Ngee Ann National Teochew Artists’ Exhibition unfolded as a vibrant gathering of artistic voices rooted in Teochew heritage, affirming its role as a key platform for Teochew artistic expressions in Singapore. Presenting a dynamic showcase across various media, this year’s edition saw a significant increase in sculptural works reflecting the current creative energy of the community.

 The exhibition was officially opened by Mr James Teo Wee Wee, Chairman of the Cultural Sub-Committee of the Ngee Ann Kongsi, it was well attended by artists, friends and supporters who turned up in full force to honour the artists’ dedication to their craft and share in collective pride of the community, where established and young artists keep artistic expressions and traditions alive.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Ngee Ann Artist of the Year award to Singaporean sculptor Chua Boon Kee. In his speech, he reflected on his artistic journey that has always been deeply grounded in Eastern cultural traditions. Articulated in his work Remembering the Source 饮水思源， his metal sculpture transforms expressive gestures of brushwork into solid form, balancing the weight of industrial material with the ephemeral nature of brushwork.

This exhibition also turned the spotlight on the next generation of young artists in naming Fiona Koh Li Ping as the recipient of the Ngee Ann Young Artist of the Year 2025. Drawing on Teochew food traditions, Koh juxtaposed the “costly” delicacies such as the flower crab and rabbit fish against the “commonplace”  silver moony fish and kuning fish bones reveal how social worth can be a constructed value. Painted on Chinese newspapers printed with job listings and lottery odds, she captures the tension in Singapore life between aspiration and subsistence, highlighting the delicate line between what is celebrated and what is overlooked.