Born in 1954 in Singapore, Ng Yak Hwee is a graduate of Singapore’s former Nanyang University (Botany major). An accomplished painter and sculptor, Ng received the 1987 Silver Medal from the Salon des Artistes Français, and won First Prize (Figurative category) in the 1992 UOB Painting of the Year Competition.An abstract work depicting traffic in a cityscape, ‘Crossroads’ won the top prize in the 1987 IBM Singapore Art Award competition. Ng also received from the judges a Merit Award for ‘City Park’ and a Highly Commended for ‘City Image’ (both not in the collection). For ‘Crossroads’ Ng used forms and outlines to represent people and buildings, its cool palette resonating with dynamic movement and excited energy. Ng also makes reference to Singapore’s geographical and cultural “crossroads” position within Asia, which interestingly suggests an image of a tropical green island surrounded by blue waters when viewed as an aerial perspective.
