An extremely versatile artist who emerged into the local art scene only some 15 years ago, Chua Boon Kee has in fact been involved in art making since the 1970s.

Born in 1953 and graduated from the formal Baharuddin Vocational Institute in 1973, he studied "Applied Sculpture" - the first full time sculpture course in Singapore. Conducted by the famous Mr. Tan Teng Kee, who established his name as possibly the first Singaporean abstract metal sculptor, he recalls going through a period of “serious training” where he learned traditional methods in sculpting, basic art theories and western art history.

The teachings of Tan Teng Kee are extremely important for him. Still in touch with his teacher today, he describes how Tan would always urge him to be like “the heavenly horse soaring freely through the sky” or “Tian Ma Xing Kong” (meaning to be totally unconstrained and imaginative in style), when making artwork.

This maxim may be a common one, but it has left a deep impression on his mind, keeping him bold and opened-minded. In fact, he is constantly searching for new frontiers, and has even set an agenda to change his materials and methods once every two years in order to generate new elements and discover new ideas.