Ho Ho Ying is a reputable abstract artist in Singapore who started to explore abstract art as early as in the 1950s. His abstract works embodied new aspirations, reflecting the dynamism and innovative spirit prevalent in a rapidly modernising urban environment. He is a founding member of the Modern Art Society, which he led from 1964 to 1970s. Throughout Ho’s artistic career, calligraphic aesthetics has continued to be a major inspiration for his exploration of abstract art. In 2012, Ho was awarded the Singapore Cultural Medallion, in recognition of his artistic achievements and contributions to the local art scene. “The Survivor” is one of the strongest works that represents Ho’s artistic evolution in 1970s. The “abstracted” portraiture of the survivor is featured through the expressive brushstrokes and vibrant colour application.
