TAN Kai Huat 陈开发
Visual Arts,
Accession Number 003335
- Oral History Centre
Source
- 11
Total Reels
- Lye Soo Choon 赖素春
Interviewer
- 09:19:34
Total Running Time
- Mandarin
Language
Copyright Notice
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Reel/Disc 1 of 11
Metadata
- 3 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:49:00
Running Time
- MP4
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Video recording of interviewee and his painting in Memories at Old Ford Factory (MOFF).
Near the Exit of the gallery: Interviewee explains his painting “The Last Trail”. How he planned the layout of the painting, why it was in a shape of a star. Talk about the colours he used, how he conceptualized and did his research. Challenges in drawing the painting.
Interviewee explains a set of four paintings near to the exit of MOFF gallery that presented the theme of “Peace”. Talked about the painting at lower left of the wall, explain the meaning behind what he drew, talks about the colours he used. Painting on the upper right, why he used “puzzle” as part of the painting image. Colours he used. The other two paintings expressed the preciousness of the materials that the galley kept. The upper left painting was on paper documents. Explain the lower right painting on photographs and audio visual materials. Why he painted a set of four paintings instead of one. Colours he matched for the paintings.
Outside the toilets: Interviewee talks about the theme of the wall painting. Why he chose to draw 1950s countryside. Describe why and how he drew herns (苍鹭). How he matched his painting with the Exit door.
Outdoor at Syonan Race (Snakes & Leaders Board game): Describe the things and incidents related to Syonan days that he drew in Syonan Race. Colour materials used had to be water proof. Challenges in painting on ground, how to prevent rain. How he drew smaller boxes on ground to paint this big painting.
Remarks
Memories of Ford Factory (MOFF) Paintings
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Reel/Disc 2 of 11
Metadata
- 3 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:54:45
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Audio from CD02-11
Born in 1954. Father came to Singapore due to civil war in China. Father won lottery and bought a food factory in Singapore. How his mother got married to his father. Father lost the factory and became coolie at Singapore River. Interviewee always stayed at home and did not play with other kids when he was a child. Started to go outdoor when he went to primary school. Liked to observe his kampong (village). Family background and occupation of his father and elder brothers.
Recalled in late 1960s, due to Konfrontasi, few ships from Indonesia, his father and brothers lost their jobs. Discontinued his studies in secondary two. Why he decided to learn a skill though the pay for apprentice was much lower than other jobs. His studies in primary school, recalled repeated his primary three and caused him to be hard working in future. His studies in secondary school, met many teachers who were good in Art. Interviewee was good in calligraphy and map drawing. Good relationship with his teachers. Felt inferior and never contact his teachers when he dropped out of school due to family financial problem. His interest in music.
Remarks
Memories of Ford Factory (MOFF) Paintings
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Reel/Disc 3 of 11
Metadata
- 3 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:52:28
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Continued to talk about his interest in music. How he self-learnt Chinese flute and harmonica. Why he dropped out of music course. Seek advice from Pi Pa琵琶 musician and realized the difficulties to pursue career in music. Recalled applied for singer training courses and realized that singer in Singapore required much more other type of skills. His interest in art. Why he disliked cartoon drawings when he was young. Recalled taking part in still life drawing in secondary school. Why he tried not to be involved in wall painting of school premises.
Tried various jobs after he dropped out of school in 1969. How he became apprentice in advertising company. Described the working place and things that apprentice had to do. Things that apprentice would need to do when master painter painted movies signboards. Working attitude of most apprentices. Job division in advertising company. Did odds and ends when he started his apprenticeship. Boss paid him higher salaries as he was hardworking. Allowed him to help in painting after a month which was not common in apprenticeship.
Remarks
Memories of Ford Factory (MOFF) Paintings
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Reel/Disc 4 of 11
Metadata
- 15 Oct 2008
Recording Date
- 00:57:51
Running Time
- MP3
Format
- Open Access
Conditions Governing Access
Synopsis
*Allowed to help in painting after a month in Hongbai advertising 红白广告公司. This was not common in apprenticeship. Used magnifier to draw imagine outline. Helped in grounding and colouring. Movie posters had three standard sizes. Described how he coloured the movie posters, how to mix colour, elaborated with example. Learnt about human relations, how to be an advertiser and woodwork for signboard in his apprenticeship. Recalled how he practiced drawing huge painting at home. Methods and challenges to draw huge painting. Recalled setting up outdoor signboard at night. Left the company to join factory at Jurong, received much higher pay.
Worked in watch factory. Described the working environment and his job scope. Why he decided to go back to painting related job though the factory would like to train him to be supervisor. Why he left 红白 although he loved painting work. Joined Dong Fang advertising 东方广告社 for few months, left the company because he had no chance to paint portrait. Joined Sight Studio 万象广告设计社 , his boss Chan Khun Yew 陈庚尧 was a famous artist. Recalled how the boss interviewed him. Why the company mainly did posters for Malay movies. Given a lot of chances to paint. Things he learnt there. Various type of materials used for painting. Things he learnt from his boss. How to mix colour to present human skin colour. Boss often brought him to see art exhibitions, introduced him as his assistant. Recalled making stage setting.
Remarks
Memories of Ford Factory (MOFF) Paintings
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