In Singapore, The Home of a Pioneering Artist Lives On

Once the residence of artist Chen Wen Hsi, this restored home embraces concrete and shifting garden views to honour his belief in harmony between art, life and nature

In Singapore, a restored home carries the legacy of Chen Wen Hsi, one of the nation’s pioneering artists and a key figure of the Nanyang style. Once where he lived, painted and taught, the property has been sensitively reimagined into a contemporary space that honours his spirit. Guided by his belief in harmony between life and nature, the home opens to garden courtyards and picture windows that frame shifting views like living artworks. Concrete is softened by greenery that draws the landscape inward, creating an interplay between inside and out that echoes Chen’s ethos. Two preserved murals form the core of the home, while artworks by first- and second-generation Singaporean artists continue a dialogue across the spaces. Rather than existing as a relic of the past, the home extends the artist’s lineage — a place where art remains present in daily life.

Images by Studio Periphery