1964
Ang Yian Sann is born on the 26 Feburary 1964 in Singapore and spends most of his creative childhood days in the remote village of Ama Keng Village, Lim Chu Kang. He spends most of his childhood in the fascination of kite flying and making. This childhood period in play and making process develop the foundation of his interest in art-making and industrial design, as well as its connective relationships in the years to come.
1982 – 1984
He began self- study in art and began to produce works of art in drawings and watercolour-based paintings, while studying for his “A” Level General Cambridge Examination in private study and this gave him the opportunity to spend most of his time in the National Library looking through art and design literature studies as well as visiting local and international art exhibitions held at the National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. He took particular interest in the works of Singapore second generation artists like Goh Beng Kwan. He begins to develop a series of collage works under this influence.
He attends an important exhibition by Paul Klee – 61 works from the Modern Art Museum, Dusseldorf in 1982 at the National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. This influence his early watercolours-based works with the “Lotus and Dancers Series” since 1986.
1984-1986
He served his National Army Service in Singapore and continue to produce drawings and watercolours paintings and took an interest in design as well.
1985
Participated and exhibited at the United Overseas Bank Group’s “Painting of Year Award” Competition Exhibition held at the National Museum Art Gallery. His work was awarded “Certificate of Commendation Award”
1986-1989
Upon completion of his National Army Service, he attends the newly established LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore in art and design studies established by Brother Joseph McNally in 1985. He graduated with a Diploma in Art (Industrial Design) where he meets and taught by Singaporean Industrial Designer, Chew Moh-Jin upon his return from Milan and based in Singapore.
1987
Participated and exhibited at the Shell Discovery Art Exhibition, organized by Shell Singapore
1988
Held solo exhibition “One’s Thought” organized by Ikea-Café Gallery, Singapore. An exhibition of water-colours paintings. Awarded Top prize “ Painting of the Year” 1988 and exhibited at the Painting of the Year Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery. His work is also being awarded “Certificate of Commendation Award” in the same exhibition.
1989
Develops work of designart “Computer Garden”(1989) concept prototype – an information-based computer system based on green design and the IT garden of Singapore. This work is to be featured in his solo exhibition at the National Museum Art Gallery, 1992.
1989
Held “One’s Within” presented and sponsored by United Overseas Bank Group at the National Museum Art Gallery. Exhibited at the Contemporary Art Exhibition, Singapore Art Society, Singapore. He also exhibited at the Asean Art Tour Exhibition in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei. Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia from 1990 – 1992.
1990
Works as an industrial designer in the manufacturing industries. Designs include lightings and furniture for manufacturing industries and develop a particular interest in design and manufacturing processes for art-making. While designing and art-making becomes a parallel activity. He finds the collision of art and design in its practices. Since then, art-making and designing is a dual activity for reflection and reconciliation in the forthcoming years to come through academic teaching and research.
He exhibited at “Leaders in Art Exhibition, Mandarin Hotel, Singapore. His works also featured at the “Urban Artists: 25 Years of Singapore Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. He exhibited his works with a group of young artist at the “Singapore Young Artists Exhibition at Art Base Gallery, Singapore, as part of the Art Festival Fringe. He also showcase at the “Arts Nature Exhibition” by Hong Kong Bank at the Empress Place Museum.
1991
Exhibited at “The Grand Discovery Art Exhibition”, Singapore Shell’s Centenary, Empress Place Museum
1992
Solo exhibition – “Just Before Sunrise”, National Museum Art Gallery. Design exhibited at the “International Design Forum Exhibition” Raffles City Convention Centre, The Design Centre of Singapore- Trade Development Board Singapore.
1993
Awarded 5th prize at the Phillips Morris’s Singapore Art Award ( Painting) at the Singapore Art Award Exhibition, Tresor’d International Art Exhibition, Phillips Morris Group of Companies, Singapore.
1994
Asean Art Award Exhibition, Tresor’d International Art Exhibition, Phillips Morris Group of Companies, Singapore. Works exhibited at the Singapore Artist Speak2 Exhibition, Empress Place Museum, Singapore.
1995
UOB 60th Anniversary Art Exhibition, United Overseas Bank Group, Singapore. Awarded a study grant scholarship from the Lee Foundation to further post-graduate research study in industrial design at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology from 1995- 1998. Awarded “Research Tutorship” grant to teach and research at the Department of Industrial Design, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology,Melbourne Australia. He co-teach in Experimental Design under the tutelage of Michael Douglas, a Faculty member of the Industrial Design Department, while conducting his post-graduate research studies in the department.
Invited for inclusion as Biographee, “Reference Asia’s of Men and Women of Achievement” published by Rifacimento International.
1996
Travel to Alice Spring with a group of students from the Department of Industrial Design and the opportunity to view original aboriginal art.
1997
Awarded “International Gold Star Award” Recipient for Excellence, India International Friendship Society, New Delhi. The nomination is supported by the National Arts Council, Singapore.
1998
Graduated with a Master degree in Design (Industrial Design) by Research and return back to Singapore.
1999
He is awarded a Fellowship at the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore from 1999- 2002, where he lectures and further develop his scholarship on industrial design and art-making as innovation. He initiated and developed a University-based research project “Eco-Mosquito Plant Terminator” in collaboration with Dr Ho Shuit Hung from the Department of Biology, National University of Singapore.
Meets Marianne Maulino, art critic and curator, as well as Co-Ordinator for the exhibition “Origins of Modern Art in France” at the Singapore Art Museum and view the artist’s collection of works dated since 1982, who took an interest in his artistic development.
Meets Klaus Lehmann, Industrial designer and educator from State Academy of Art and Design, Stuttgart, Germany. He is Visiting Professor for Industrial Design at the Department of Architecture, National University of Singapore and develops further interest in German design and its school of taught.
At the invitation of Marjorie Chu of Art Forum Gallery, presented a solo exhibition “You +1 = One” a design and functional art exhibition at the Art Forum Gallery, Singapore.
His work entitled “Sliding” is exhibited at the UOB Art Exhibition, United Overseas Goup, Singapore.
Listed in the “2000 Outstanding Artists & Designers” by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge England as well as “ Five Hundreds Leaders of Influence” published by American Biographical Institute.
2000
Work exhibited at the 15th Asian International Art Exhibition, Tainan, Taiwan. Participating artists from Asian countries include Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines, Singapore. He received the "International Order of Merit" (I.O.M.) from the International Biographical Centre for his creative works.
2003
Travel to Shanghai and view the works of young avant-garde Chinese artists.
Change name to “ANG YIANSANN” and established Studio ANGYIANSANN in art and design and co-founded VONGYIS in collaboration with designer, Tan YianLing.
2004
His Work “Self-Portrait, 1990” is featured as an archive of instant images at the Museum of Instant Images, Netherlands.
He further his academic teaching and creative practice at the LaSalle College of the Arts in Industrial Design and developed the BA.(Hons) Product Design programme validated by the Open University of UK as the Programme Leader for Product Design at the Faculty of Design from 2004- 2007.
2005
Study and research travel to Vietnam and begin studying Vietnamese artists’s work in Hue City, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh. He takes an interest in the works of artist, Vu Tan Dan based in Hanoi.
2006
Attends and participated in the L’Observatoire Eurpeen De L’Object:001 in Venice develops by Martine Bedin, a French architect and designer, as well a member of the Memphis design movement. Published a paper “ Object and its Objectivity in Venice” as part of the workshop.
Invited by Phan van Thang of Long Van Gallery for a joint exhibition with Vietnamese artist Ngyuen Duc Thien as part of Hue Festival of Hue City, Vietnam. Give a public lecture at the Hue College of the Arts, Hue University entitled” Inknography: Enclosure Via Disclosure Perspective” as part of the exhibition.
Collaborated with Phan Van Thang, a traditional Vietnamese builder based in Hue City in the exploration of traditional and modernity architecture, such project experimentation include Votu House in Ho Chinh Minh.
1997
Study and research trip to Japan and Vietnam in the understanding of the Zen influence on applied arts and design development. Study trips to Hue City, Central Vietnam on the development of applied arts from architecture to design objects of production based in Hue City.
2008
co-founded HUEHUE Village, Hue City (Vietnam) a cultural village based in Central Vietnam.
2008 - solo exhibition entitled "Form by ANG YIANSANN" presented by Artinno Galleria, Vietnam
The works of Ang Yian Sann had been collected by National Museum Art Gallery Permanent Collection Singapore, Lee Foundation Singapore, United Overseas Bank Group, Development Bank of Singapore, Dr. Earl Lu Gallery Collection, Professor Klaus Lehmann, Germany (Stuttgart); Dr Hanns Maul & Monika Maul, Germany (Munich); Maulino Marianne, France (Paris), Andrew Bell, Hong Kong; Duncan Louey, Australia (Melbourne); Dr Earl Lu, Singapore; Marjorie Chu, Singapore; Phan Van Thang, Vietnam (Hue City)
