In Japan, the practice of formally presenting gifts with silk covers called fukusa began in the Edo period (1603–1868).

The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS) is proud to present Memories of Time: Leo Hee Tong时光印迹： 梁其栋, an exhibition showcasing the works of iconic Singaporean painter Leo Hee Tong. Featuring close to 50 paintings, both early and recent works from the NAFA alumnus will be on display. Held from 16 to 28 April 2024 at The Ngee Ann Kongsi Galleries, the exhibition affords audiences a glimpse into the visual panorama of the artist’s life, memories, and imagination. This exhibition will be Leo’s sixth solo after a decade, and his first at his alma mater.

Cheong Soo Pieng, a pioneer Nanyang artist born in Xiamen, Fujian, is known for his distinctive style, which stemmed from a profound understanding of easel painting and Chinese aesthetics. Layer by Layer uncovers never-before-seen revelations into Cheong’s artistic practice, presenting over 30 paintings from the 1950s to the 1980s.

Manila Galleon explores a trade that connected Asia to the Americas and Europe. For centuries, Spanish ships laden with porcelain, silk, spices, and other goods sailed annually across the Pacific from Manila to Acapulco, returning with millions of pieces of silver.

Liu Kuo-sung: Experimentation as Method is the largest exhibition by a Singapore public museum dedicated to the Chinese ink master, Liu Kuo-sung, which celebrates his artistic career spanning 70 years.

Photographs surround us every day and everywhere. They shape the way we see the world and the way we see ourselves. Explore the changing roles of photography in Southeast Asia—from its beginnings as a tool of European exploration to the “performance” of studio portraits; from the incomplete realities of war to the rise of fine art; and finally to the memes and selfies that saturate social media today. Discover the power of photography.