Gog Sing Hooi (b. 1933, Guangdong, China–d. 11 February 1994, Singapore)1 was one of Singapore’s pioneer watercolour painters. He was known for his transparent watercolour depictions of Singapore street scenes and of the Singapore River.2 He helped cofound the Singapore Watercolour Society in 1969 and was a strong supporter of the watercolour art form.3
Early life
An only child, Gog was born in the Chaozhou village of Fengxi in Guangdong province, southern China. His father died of malaria when he was almost a year old. At the age of five, he moved to Penang, Malaya, with his mother to live with relatives. Because of the Japanese Occupation (1942–45), he did not begin his studies until the age of 12, spending his childhood helping out at his relative’s rubber plantation and vegetable farm.4
After completing his primary and secondary school education, Gog became a teacher in Kedah before moving to Singapore in 1957 to enrol at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). While pursuing his interest in art at NAFA, he also taught at Tuan Mong Primary School and studied at the Singapore Teachers’ Training College. He graduated from NAFA in 1962, and married Tan Lee Ching that same year.5
Career
Gog began his artistic journey with caricature drawings and portraiture in his teens. Not long after, he ventured into transparent watercolour painting and remained faithful to it all his life. This medium necessitates the mix of colours with water, unlike the denser body-colour method in which pigments are mixed with opaque white to obtain different shades. Transparent watercolour painting employs thin washes that allow the whiteness of the paper to shine through, giving the subject depicted a clear luminosity.6
The Singapore River was a favourite subject of Gog’s work. He and fellow painters would meet on Sundays to paint at the riverbank. Other outdoor subjects included Chinese temples and Singapore street scenes from the 1970s and ’80s, some of which no longer exist today.7 Gog also painted landmarks such as Coleman Bridge. The bridge brought back fond memories for him as he used to visit the area when courting his wife.8
Although he never became a full-time artist and remained a teacher for pragmatic reasons, Gog’s technical virtuosity is undisputed. Discerning art patrons, such as the late former president Ong Teng Cheong, were collectors of his works. A champion of the art of watercolour painting, Gog was one of the persistent voices that called for the creation of the Singapore Watercolour Society in the 1960s. He was an active member of the society throughout his life and sat on various society committees. He was also instrumental in the artistic development of younger members, mentoring them during those Sunday sessions by the Singapore River.9
Gog taught for over 30 years at various schools before retiring, when he was finally able to paint full-time.10
Death
Shortly after retirement, Gog succumbed to complications from cancer surgery and passed away at the age of 61 on 11 February 1994.11
Selected exhibitions12
1980: Singapore Art Exhibition, Bahrain and Dubai, United Arab Emirates / 5th Festival of Asian Arts, Hong Kong / First solo exhibition, Mandarin Hotel, Singapore
1981: First Exhibition of Asian Art, Bahrain
1981–82: ASEAN travelling exhibition
1984: Kobe Niki Art Exhibition, Japan
1988: Collection of Asia Watercolours Exhibition, Osaka, Japan / Seoul Olympic ’88 International Watercolour Exhibition, South Korea / Asian Watercolour Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Ishikawa Prefecture Museum Exhibition, Japan
1989: 20 Singapore Artists exhibition for New York Art Expo, USA / Bru-Sin Art Exhibition, Brunei
1992: Mother of the Artists – Della Butcher exhibition, Singapore13
1996: Gog Sing Hooi’s Watercolours, 4th President’s Charity Art Exhibition, Singapore (posthumous)14
Family15
Wife: Tan Lee Ching
Children: Two sons, Gog Meng Hee and Gog Meng Sek, and a daughter, Gog Soon Joo
Author
Alicia Yeo
References
1. The President’s Office and Singapore Watercolour Society, Gog Sing Hooi, 1933–1994: A dedicated Singapore watercolourist, with an introduction by Chia Wai Hon (Singapore: President’s Office [and] Singapore Watercolour Society, 1996), 9. (Call no. RSING 759.95957 GOG).
2. Ong Sor Fern, “Highlights from the 26 works donated to the National Gallery by DBS Bank,” Straits Times, 3 April 2014, http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/arts/highlights-from-the-26-works-donated-to-the-national-gallery-by-dbs-bank.
3. The President’s Office and Singapore Watercolour Society, Gog Sing Hooi, 5.
4. The President’s Office and Singapore Watercolour Society, Gog Sing Hooi, 9.
5. The President’s Office and Singapore Watercolour Society, Gog Sing Hooi, 11.
6. The President’s Office and Singapore Watercolour Society, Gog Sing Hooi, 11–12.
7. The President’s Office and Singapore Watercolour Society, Gog Sing Hooi, 15, 18.
8. Leong Weng Kam, “Art Museum Gets 2 of Gog’s Best,” Straits Times, 14 September 1996, 7. (From NewspaperSG)
9. The President’s Office and Singapore Watercolour Society, Gog Sing Hooi, 5, 7, 15, 20.
10. Leong Weng Kam, “Posthumous Tribute to Watercolourist,” Straits Times, 30 September 1996, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
11. T.K. Sabapathy, “Gog Sing Hooi Left His Mark on Singapore Art,” Straits Times, 25 February 1994, 15. (From NewspaperSG)
12. Qiu Zeming, ed., 新加坡美术家名鉴 [Contemporary Singapore artists] (Singapore: Xinjiapo yi shu xie hui, 1990), 68. (Call no. Chinese RSING 759.95957 CON)
13. “Grand Old Lady of Art,” Straits Times, 24 April 1992, 12. (From NewspaperSG)
14. Leong, “Posthumous Tribute to Watercolourist.”
15. Obituary: Gog Sing Hooi, Straits Times, 12 February 1994, 38. (From NewspaperSG)
The information in this article is valid as of October 2023 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
The information on this page and any images that appear here may be used for private research and study purposes only. They may not be copied, altered or amended in any way without first gaining the permission of the copyright holder.
Tan Kian Por (b. 26 November 1949, Chaozhou, China–) is a Chinese calligrapher, painter and seal carver. His paintings have a distinctive style and are displayed in major art galleries in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Korea. Tan’s works are recognised internationally; they are considered masterpieces in...
Lee Man Fong (b. 1913, Guangdong, China–d. 1988, Jakarta, Indonesia) was a prominent artist based in Indonesia and Singapore. Primarily working with oil paintings, Lee was associated with the Nanyang style, which blends Chinese techniques and subjects with Western composition styles and mediums....
Iskandar Jalil (b. 5 January 1940, Singapore–) is an eminent local ceramist who uses fine clay to develop bowls and pots into artworks, integrating Japanese and Islamic styles. Iskandar was awarded the Cultural Medallion for Visual Arts in 1988. ...
Goh Beng Kwan (b. 26 December 1937, Medan, Sumatra, Indonesia–) is a pioneer Singapore modern artist known for his distinctive approach to abstraction and collage, as seen from his artworks. For his contributions to the local art scene, Goh was awarded the Cultural Medallion for Visual Arts in 1989....
Tan Choh Tee (b. 1942, Guangdong, China–) is a prominent artist known for his impressionist-style oil paintings depicting still life as well as landscapes from a bygone era in Singapore’s history. For his contributions to the local arts scene, Tan was awarded the Cultural Medallion for Visual Arts in 2006....
Tay Chee Toh (b. 1941, Johor, Malaysia–) is a second-generation Singapore artist. His works, which range from paintings to sculptures and prints, have been associated with figurative and abstract art, and draw on a diverse range of influences including batik painting, industrial objects and the surreal. In 1985, Tay received...
Vincent Hoisington (b. 1924, Singapore–d. 24 June 1972, Singapore) was a talented artist, sculptor, architect and musician who was active during the 1960s and 70s. He is best known for his murals and aluminium relief works. ...
Located at 155 Middle Road, Sculpture Square was a venue in Singapore dedicated to the exhibition and promotion of three-dimensional art. It lasted from 1999 till 2014. Housed in a historic 19th-century church building, exhibitions were held monthly at the arts venue from its inauguration in March 1999. Sculpture Square...
Tan Teng Kee (b. 1937, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia–) is a sculptor and painter, specialising in abstract works depicting space, flow and movement. He is regarded as a pioneer in the history of metal sculpture in Singapore, and was one of the first in the country to work with metals...
Lee Wen (b. 1957, Singapore–) is a multidisciplinary artist and one of Singapore’s most internationally recognised contemporary artists. A local pioneer of performance art, Lee promoted the art form during a time when it was difficult to do so. Best known for his Yellow Man series, Lee’s work has been...