Taiwan and Singapore are both tropical islands shaped by rich and diverse cultural histories. Yet their distinct colonial experiences and postwar trajectories have given rise to different ways of understanding and representing their shared region. What might emerge when these two island histories are viewed side by side, as if in a mirror?

CHEONG Soo Pieng and Chen Wen Hsi, two leading figures of Singapore’s first generation of modern artists, developed their practices through the years surrounding the nation’s independence in 1965. Their work evolved from early explorations of Nanyang art and imagery toward abstraction and formal experimentation. TAN Choh Tee represents the continuing evolution of realist painting, while Wong Keen’s practice reflects a broader, more global outlook.

Bringing these four Singaporean artists into dialogue with major figures of Taiwan’s postwar art scene, the Taipei presentation features works by Yuyu YANG and Chu Wei Bor, whose practices encompass abstraction and semi-abstraction, alongside works by CHIN Jun-Tso and Chen Ching-Jung. Together, these works trace the different paths taken by the two island societies as their art scenes responded to changing cultural and historical conditions, revealing both affinities and differences across the Taiwan–Singapore artistic landscape.