Singapore artist has more than meets the eye

Singaporean artist Ch’ng Seok Tin didn’t let losing nearly all of her vision deter her from her practice as an artist. Instead, she reshaped the way she made her masterpieces and adapted using special techniques to help support her eyes’ new limitations.
Ch’ng studied art in Singapore and around the world, earning several degrees and much experience in the Untied States in printmaking. However, when she fell and an abscess was found in her brain, she required surgery that robbed her of her sight.
It might have been easy to give up after that, especially for an artist who relied on her eyes to help her make important creative decisions. But Ch’ng decided simply to switch tacks and shift her fine art medium from 2-D printmaking to 3-D sculptures and mixed media works. She stopped solely relying on her eyes and started entrusting her art to her hands, making tactile works shaped by her fingers.
Ch’ng has since become one of Singapore’s most famous artists, due, in part, to overcoming her limitations and the prolific nature of her work. She has published several books with her own illustrations, and she regularly sells and exhibits her artwork. One such exhibit catered specifically to experiencing art without the eyes, leading visitors on a journey of touch, taste, and sound. Unlike many other exhibits, participants were encouraged to interact with the sculptures and displays throughout the exhibit by touching them. However, the life of an artist like Ch’ng isn’t glamorous. She has to rely on her savings account most often if she doesn’t make enough selling her pieces, necessitating a simple and frugal life.
That doesn’t make Ch’ng despair, though. Instead, she continues to create whenever she has the inspiration to and also works to bring art to others. Ch’ng leads a printmaking class for other visually impaired people looking to explore the benefits that art might have for them. Though they cannot see the colors — Ch’ng herself has an assistant to help her with her own colors, when she requires differentiation — the class discusses historical and cultural importances of different colors and uses them according to the moods they wish to convey in their art.
Experience all of the senses art employs by signing up for an art class. SGArtClass.com offers tens of art classes to pick from depending on your interests. Whether you’re most intrigued by mixed media art, 3-D sculpture, digital art, or printmaking, there is sure to be an art class that will pique your creativity. Work one-on-one with an expert art teacher to examine all the different ways you can approach your art projects. You can also consider signing up alongside a group of friends or coworkers for an unforgettable creative experience that will have you talking and reminiscing for months. Who knows? You might just discover a passion for creating art that you were never aware of prior to taking an art class.
Learn more about Ch’ng Seok Tin by visiting http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/10-things-about-chng-seok-tin-the-blind-artist.