Welcome to Time Out Singapore's 52 Weeks of #ExcitingSG – our commitment to showing you the best of what's going on in the city this week. Every Monday, a guest writer who's "in" with the scene shares a recommendation on what to see, eat, do or buy in the city. This week, we chat with contemporary artist Jahan Loh. Influenced by graffiti art in the 1970s through 1980s, the creator brought a slice of Singapore pop art into the limelight at the Crazy Rich Singapore Week in Los Angeles, celebrating the launch of the much-anticipated film Crazy Rich Asians, with a site-specific mural. Titled Garden City, the masterpiece exhibits the iconic landmarks of Singapore decked in a juxtaposition of hues to represent the diversity of cultures, overlaid with text written in the four national languages – English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil.
Hi Jahan! What gets you excited about Singapore?
Singapore inspires me in more ways than one. Being the melting pot of cultures from all over, the diverse range of influences that you can find in this country excites me.
Tell us a bit about the artwork you presented at Crazy Rich Singapore Week in LA.
The piece was done in the four main languages of Singapore – it involved English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil written in a semi-abstract manner, in an oriental blue and white style that looks similar to porcelain.
What is the inspiration behind your art?
Life influences my art. My art reflects various life processes, which are translated through my aesthetics.
How would you define Singapore’s art scene?
Like Singapore, it is a young but vibrant scene that is growing.
What’s next for you?
Planning a new series of works for my next exhibition!