Chua Mia Tee, one of the leading realist artists in Singapore, painted some of the most iconic artworks in Singapore’s history, such as Epic Poem of Malaya (1955) and National Language Class (1959). Road Construction Worker (1955) is Chua’s portrait of an unnamed labourer. The subject sits on the floor, shirtless and barefoot. Veins protrude from his arms and hands, and sweat trickles from his neck and armpit, conveying the physical strain of his work. He is unshaven, and his dark hair is tousled and unkempt. He furrows his brow and directs his haunting gaze at the viewer, seemingly pleading for compassion. Chua believes in not only capturing the physical likeness of his subjects but also their spirit, as he subscribes to the principles of “truth, virtue, and beauty” in his art. By painting this individual, Chua pays tribute to Singapore’s construction workers, many of whom were migrants, who were key to the country’s infrastructural expansion.
This is the first time the work of Chia Mia Tee is presented at Biennale Arte.
—Clarissa Chikiamco
