It all started with a social studies illustration of a musclebound founding prince of Singapore. The rest, they say, is history, including the prince in question.
Thanks to the illustration of a shirtless Sang Nila Utama discovering and naming Singapore, drawn in a super-muscular style that highlights the historical figure’s handsomeness and rugged good looks, the internet has exploded with interest recently. Though the initial image was created six years ago, fans of the image ensured that it remained prominent in the memories of fans of Singapore, history, and art. And when an illustration collective asked the fans to post their own versions of the founding prince of Singapore, they did not disappoint, meaning that the popularity of the muscular illustration will remain well known for years to come.
From smoldering princes to strong princes emerging from the waters to claim Singapore to the interesting addition of a puny Sir Stamford Raffles alongside him, the princely submissions rolled in. Many obviously derived inspiration from the initial artwork, though others took that inspiration in other directions, including into the romantic realm. In one fun work inspired by pixelated images of early video games, the muscular prince looks to be defeating a smaller by comparison Raffles, whose health bar at the top of the work is severely depleted.
The submissions themselves were all collected by the illustration collective and organized and displayed in an online art show. Each and every submission was treated equally, including being displayed on its own page in a gold frame, just like an actual artwork might appear in a gallery or art museum. All of the pieces also included the artwork’s name, the name of the artist, and a short explanation or description of the masterpiece. The body of work explored different thematic mashups of the prince with tropes such as pinup art to superhero characters.
The overall effect of the online art show is less of a serious exhibition and more of a way to poke fun at Singapore’s founding. The organizer of the show said that Singapore’s history is greater than the limited view of Raffles, who is generally credited with the founding of modern Singapore. The artwork can be taken as a tongue in cheek way to downplay Raffles’ contributions and celebrate other corners of Singapore’s history.
Art is a wonderful way to explore the past, present, and future. Visit SGArtClass.com today to browse an extensive listing of art classes you can sign up for. From acrylic painting to comic drawing and everything in between, there is sure to be a class that will pique your creative interests. Even if you have limited art skills, teachers will instruct you in the techniques necessary to complete the projects you’re most passionate about.
To read about the call for submissions of fan artworks of Singapore’s founding prince, as well as to see some of the works that were presented, go to https://mothership.sg/2018/01/sang-nila-utama-muscular-ripped/.