Old Buildings of Singapore Watercolour Paintings | Loy Chye Chuan

Post Office at Hong Lim Park, 1962

My early days of painting are mostly done outdoor and can be seen that the strokes are broad and done quickly.

Construction of Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 1964

Painted in 1964, this is the construction of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry when it reached the upper storey. In 1963, I’ve also painted the same building when the construction stage was at the second storey. That painting was collected by the National Gallery Singapore. The view of this building was painted from the old site of the Embassy of the United States, Singapore.

1982 this is a street scene in Chinatown along Trengganu Street where many hawkers peddle their produce along the street. Presently, Trengganu Street has transformed into a pedestrian mall for tourists and visitors.

An Alley at Chinatown Singapore, 1989

These back alleys at Chinatown were often bustling with activities and I enjoy painting those scene. When I paint, I try to bring as much details to the painting, the light the shadows, the bicycles, crates, windows, broken awnings and etc. The effort to paint the details brings life to the paintings.

A Corner of Smith Street at Chinatown Singapore, 1992

The focus of the main building will remain in the painting. I will add on other details of the street scene such as the tentage, passer by, clothes hanging on bamboo poles and a little blurry effect that I think will enhance the charm of this corner view of Smith Street at Chinatown.

Circular Road, 1996

This painting was awarded the Pro Arte Awards 2006 by “the artist and LeisurePainter Patchings Open 2006”

Is it a view from a corner of Circular Road coming from North Canal Road towards UOB Plaza and OCBC Centre. A busy street scene with two rows of shophouses and motor vehicles parked along the roadside. At the corner is a shop selling electrical goods.

Shop Selling Rattan at Arab Street Near Beach Road Singapore, 1998

Mohamed Sultan Road, 2001

Mohamed Sultan Road was given its official name in 1898. In the past, the street was lined up with shophouses, factories and warehouses. A man with a tricycle can be seen near the staircase, waiting for goods to be loaded so that he can go round peddling his goods. This place has since transformed into a popular nightspot with a good mix of chic restaurants and pubs. More information on Mohamed Sultan Road can be found here.

Abandoned Building at Joo Chiat Road, 2009.

Though these buildings were abandoned, I found interest in painting them when the walls shows cracks with exposed bricks and peeling paints, plants growing in between the cracks bring some sort of charm which we hardly see in the modern buildings.

Old Building at Carpenter Street

Some changes were made to this painting by adding activities back doors and people working around it. The exposed bricks and the configuration of the building structure exhibit something that we don’t often see today.