Bloom #03

Ho Seok Kee is a Singaporean interdisciplinary artist. During her diploma studies at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), she was under the tutelage of two renowned local artists, Wee Beng Chong and Tan Kee Sek. These two ink masters played an important role in deepening her interests in Chinese ink. Wee, known as one of the most versatile artists in Singapore, was also the first Cultural Medallion recipient in 1979. Tan is a renowned calligrapher cum ink painter.

Kee graduated with a Diploma in Fine Art (Distinction) from NAFA in 2016 and was one of the two valedictorians for her graduating cohort. She is a recipient of the NAFA Entry Scholarship (Degree) in 2017. In 2018, she graduated with Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in Fine Art at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts/University of Loughborough (UK). In 2018, she won the Killiney Art Prize Top Achiever award for her graduating artwork at degree level. In the same year, she also won the Silver award for the 37th UOB Painting of the Year competition.

Her key practices involve research about her living environment, science and technology innovations. Kee sees her artistic journey an evolution to the continuing investigation of traditional Chinese ink painting as there is no stopping to new exploration in art making. Her current research about the materiality of the Three Perfections of traditional Chinese ink painting in Singapore’s context has been the driving force for her latest contemporary creations. She works predominantly in ink. The precision and meticulous process involved in the execution of each ink painting are transcendental in its own form. “There is no turning back when ink meets the rice paper.”