The tropical rainforest is identified as a signature of regional landscape. The plant signatures are powerful aspects of the landscape’s vocabulary, enabling plants to make reference to a significant place and to introduce feelings associated with it. Although in Singapore, many location-names are associated with plants, the locations have left no signs of these specific plants, and the names have become insignificant. The extensive built-up environment in Singapore has adversely affected the continuing survival of native wildlife and plants; many have become endangered or extinct. Under the government’s green policies, Singapore has been reconstructed as a garden city. The messy natural landscape—the rainforest—has been replaced by a man-made landscape.
Deforestation
The tropical rainforest contains a very large number of species—insects, birds and mammals which are particularly abundant. A small area of a few square kilometers is likely to have hundreds of species of trees. Balsa, teak and other ornamental woods are from the tropical forest. The rapidly decreasing tropical forest is due to its commercial value, agricultural activities and urban development. Deforestation has caused changes in regional climate and hydrology, and threatens enormous numbers of native species with extinction.
Destruction
Mangrove-swamp ecosystems occupy coastal areas near the equator and are special nursery sites for many small animals. Mangrove trees also trap sediment, thus preventing many kinds of pollutants from reaching the ocean. The large amount of nutrients deposited by rivers which run into them makes them one of the most productive ecosystems.
Extinction
Human activities have an impact on ecosystems. Native vegetation has been destroyed by land use, hunting and the harvesting of particular species, all of which are major factors which have led to the decline or extinction of native plants and animals.
Transformation
Urban and agriculture ecosystems are particularly prone to invasion of exotics plants and animals, when the invasive species that become dominants that cause a massive damage to the native plants and animals communities. The impact includes their ecological distinctiveness and their potentials for competitive displacement, disease transmission, and genetic swamping.
About the artist:
Date of Birth 19 July 1943
Education
1968
Graduated from Singapore Teachers’ Training College in 1968
1979 – 1983
Studied Fine Art at Wolverhampton University, United Kingdom
2004 – 2008
Studied Landscape Architecture at Lincoln University, New Zealand
Career as Educator and Sculptor
1984 – 1986
First Art Elective Teacher at Nanyang Girls’ High School
1987 – 1993
Part-time Lecturer, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and La Salle School of Arts
1994 – 1995
Part-time Lecturer, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University
2001
Founded Sculpture Society
1996 –
Professional fulltime sculptor
Awards
1995
Singapore Cultural Medallion
2005
Winner of top prize, 11th Triennale India
2006
Outstanding City Sculpture Award, China
2008
Finalist, Beijing Olympic International Tour Exhibition
Solo Exhibitions
1993
Four Dimensions, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
1999
Rain Forest, Plastique Kinetic Worm, Singapore
2002
20 Tonnes – Physical Consequences, Atrium @ MICA (previously known as MITA) & Art-2 Gallery, Singapore
2006
Oasis, Sculpture Square, Singapore
Selected Group Exhibitions
1985
Singapore Sculpture Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
1985
Second Asian Art Show, Fukuoka Museum, Japan
1986
Contemporary Asian Art Show, National Museum of Modern Art, Seoul, Korea
1989
Third Asian Art Show, Fukuoka Museum, Japan
1991
Sculpture in Singapore; National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
1998
International Sculpture Exhibition, Quebec
2002
Borrowed Landscape; Site-specific Works in Indonesia
2002
1st International Miniature Sculpture Exhibition, Taiwan
2005
11th Triennale, India
2006
Invited to the International City of Sculpture Exhibition and related events; Zhenzhou, China
2008
Participant; the Olympic Games Landscape Sculpture Exhibition; Beijing, China.
