Choy Weng Yang (12 July 1930 – 7 August 2025; ) was a Singaporean visual artist, curator and writer on the a artd, and proponent of the art fraternity in post-independence Singapore. His literary contributions on post-modern arts in Singapore have helped shape the local contemporary art scene.
Life and career Born 12 July 1930 in Singapore, Choy graduated with a National Diploma of Art UK from Hornsey College of Art in 1962 and received the Art Teachers' Certificate (UK) from the University of London Institute of Education in 1963. In his years as a student in London, he had many opportunities to study the works of great modern artists like Picasso and Mondrian, through visits to other European cities. These opportunities to travel shaped his knowledge of art and his aesthetic development for his art in the years that were to come.
Back in Singapore after graduating from the Institute, Choy worked as assistant lecturer in the Arts & Crafts Department of the Teachers' Training College, and subsequently took office as a Curator of Art with the National Museum of Singapore in 1978. In his professional capacity he served actively for the arts circle, receiving acclamation for his art criticisms for artists and writings about local artistic movements. Choy's passion for painting never left him despite his heavy work commitments, and actively participated in group art shows in Australia and Paris. In 1982, Choy contributed to an article on Singapore art, and published in the very first Singapore art directory, titled "Singaporean artists". This book was officially launched at the 1982 National Day Art Exhibition, by the then Minister of State for Culture, Major Fong Sip Chee, on 16 August 1982.
His exposures to western art during his curatorship tenure enabled him to develop his artistic side. In the early years he was particularly influenced by the works by Monet, for the light and colour in his paintings. Progressively he found that using light and colour alone on his canvas was not enough in his own compositions. Cézanne's use of structure in his composition, and Mondrian's strength in order, clarity and strong composition design thus became an important elements in Choy's paintings from 1985 on. It was also in the same year that Choy decided to retire from his curatorial position to devote himself as a full-time painter. In the 1990s, Choy's works are increasingly influenced by Chinese ink and wash paintings by the great Chinese masters of bygone dynasties.
In the years that followed after his retirement, Choy continued to be active in the arts scene. Choy's curatorial experience continued to be sought after by many art aficionados and artists alike, and frequently penned art criticisms and introductions of artists for their exhibitions and art publications.
Choy died at Alexandra Hospital on 7 August 2025, at the age of 95.
Major exhibitions
DatesTitleLocation1972Singapore Art – Adelaide Festival of ArtsAdelaide, Australia1976National Museum Art Gallery Inaugural Exhibition (group exhibition)National Museum of SingaporeSingapore12 September -15 September 1979Contemporaries '79 (group exhibition)Alpha GallerySingapore1981ASEAN Traveling Exhibition of Painting and Photography (group exhibition)1985Singaporean Artist – Salon des Artistes FrancaisGrand PalaisParis, FranceASEAN Traveling Exhibition of Painting and Photography (group exhibition)1987New Directions (group exhibition)National Museum of Singapore Art GallerySingapore1988Singapore Contemporary ArtistsHong Kong Art CentreHong Kong1990 Brun-Sin Singapore (group exhibition)Takashimaya GallerySingapore19911992The Figure in Art in the Singapore Context(2nd group exhibition by Group 90)Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) GallerySingapore17 March - 19 March 1994ART of the Nude(3rd group exhibition by Group 90)Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) GallerySingapore1995Art That BlindsEdmund Tie & CompanySingaporeArt and Business, presented by Shenn's Fine Art organised by Gim NgTakashimaya GallerySingapore1996Line Perceptions – recent drawings by 6 artists (group exhibition)Cicada GallerySingapore1998Windows – paintings by 3 Singaporean artists (group exhibition)Art ForumSingapore2000Ambience – theme and variations (solo)DP. SpaceSingapore2002The Contemporary Asian Art Fair (group exhibition)organized by the Art AssociationSuntec CitySingapore2004City InspirationsCape of Good Hope Art GallerySingapore2005ARTSingaporeSuntec CitySingapore20062007ARTSingaporeSuntec CitySingaporeUnique 9 Exhibition (group exhibition)Cape of Good Hope Art GallerySingapore
References