7th - 10th November 2024

Affordable Art Fair Singapore

Created for Sarah Birtles Art + Advice, for Affordable Art Fair Singapore, these carved and painted woodblocks by the artist, Kean Onn See, were inspired during a visit to Penang, Malaysia.

The three panels were created together as a whole. Each panel stands alone also, to reflect the characteristics of Peranakan architecture of the late 19th century.

Every element has been thoughtfully arranged to draw our eyes close to the details, to hold and engage our gaze, and explore and contemplate the composition of the interior.

SARAH BIRTLES Art + Advice

Explore Peranakan Heritage through Penang's

Central Courtyard

with paintings on carved woodblock

Kean Onn See - Chair From the Salvos - Acrylic on carved woodblock

Central Courtyard of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion.

Artist's Note

Carved and painted on woodblocks, the paintings are based on and around the central courtyards of UNESCO world heritage buildings of Cheong Fatt Tze's Blue Mansion and Pinang Peranakan Mansion in Penang, Malaysia.

Three 80x40cm panels were created together as a whole. Each panel stands alone also, to reflect the Chinese, Malays and European characteristics of Peranakan architecture of the late 19th Century.

Showing at Singapore Affordable Art Fair in 2024, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to have given this opportunity to tell stories of my birth country. As a boy, I secretly wanted to be a painter. Back then it was a childish dream.

A love letter to my late father, Central Courtyard pay respect to his love, his sacrifices and our Malaysia born Chinese heritage.

Kean Onn See

Central Courtyard

Finalist: Archibald Prize 2024

A guide and making ofKean Onn See Margaret AcklandBlack Hole: Ruthless Preceptor of Space and Time

acrylic on carved woodblock ● 75cm x 65cm

This carved and painted woodblock depicts artist Margaret Ackland in her Sydney studio, surrounded by her sumptuous watercolour paintings.

Margaret and I met around 10 years ago when we were neighbours in Redfern, about the time I started painting as a hobby. We have been friends ever since. As my art practice progressed, Margaret was a constant source of support and encouragement.

When I decided to create my first portrait and enter it into the Archibald Prize, she was the obvious choice.

I placed Margaret at the centre of the portrait, holding our gaze, in her partitioned shared space. Among her opulent paintings there are pieces of her modest equipment – a clamp, a floor fan, a folding desk.

I aimed to capture Margaret as an artist of talent and confidence, a woman of kindness and grace. Despite her accomplishments she remains grounded and humble. I admire these qualities greatly and worked to imbue such aspiration in this painted woodblock of Margaret Ackland.

Kean Onn See

The making of the

Portrait of Margaret Ackland

Explore the various stages of Kean Onn See's creative process with the making of this carved and painted woodblock of 'Margaret Ackland'.

the Making of 'Margaret Ackland' Archibald Prize 2024 Finalists

Carving and painting process of 'Margaret Ackland'

Portfolio

The Making of the PORTRAIT

Margaret Ackland

the Making of 'Margaret Ackland'

[data-wf-bgvideo-fallback-img] { display: none; } @media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) { [data-wf-bgvideo-fallback-img] { position: absolute; z-index: -100; display: inline-block; height: 100%; width: 100%; object-fit: cover; } }