Singapore Shophouses Series
Welcome to the Singapore Shophouses collection of local artist HweeYen Ong (Art by Yen): The Peranakan shophouse is more than just architecture; it is a canvas of our history and a silent witness to the city's evolution. From the bustling streets of Chinatown to the elegant conservation houses of Emerald Hill, Tanjong Pagar and the bohemian charm of Joo Chiat-Katong, each original oil painting by Yen captures the vibrancy of our urban heritage in her distinct colorful palette and expressive whimsical style. These shophouse paintings have found homes in private collections worldwide, including the United States, Europe, Australia and Singapore.
Check out the full Singapore Shophouses Series at this interactive virtual exhibition or view this 1-minute video. Don't miss out on the remaining pieces available!
About the series: Each oil work emanates from a local scene that spoke to the artist. Attention to architectural details and local colour become significant as it is the viewer recognition of the place and its beauty that is the fundamental intent of the work to resonate with Singaporeans and people who have lived here, that this is our vibrant legacy. But they are not observist replicas. With her freewheeling bending of perspectives, Yen meticulously captures the various ornamental features that are special to her with her intricate sculptural textures often using toothpick work, interspersed with modern whimsical quirks of people and animals that allude to the current atmosphere of the place, to complete her unique interpretation of the Peranakan legacy over time up to the present. Like the buildings, her work is a capture of the sense of the place past and up to the date of the work. And the architecture lives on after.
Life is short and Yen intends to continue with this series for as long as she can, to eventually map out her Peranakan footprint in Singapore, as this is her legacy to her homeland.
**Upcoming: Two shophouse works have been selected as finalist works by Art Revolution Taipei for its 2026 International Artist Grand Prize Competition and will be exhibited at its 11~22 November "Live Naturally • The Arts-in-Life Show". On the home front, watch out for the 26~29 November "Affordable Art Fair" Singapore at F1 Pit where the latest shophouse works will be available.
