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| Saturday, November 25, 2006
Art > Lunchtime chat with Junie Foo (Interview) Writer : Aaron LeeIn recent months, we've seen a lot of activity by Christians in the creative arts. In the first ever Singapore Biennale, which ended its run in November 2006, visual artist Donna Ong had her work prominently featured. Photographer Eddie Sung garnered several top prizes at the prestigious IPA Lucie awards in September. And in the same month, portrait painter Namiko Chan Takahashi won the 25th UOB Painting of the Year award. Aaron Lee sat down recently to have a lunchtime chat with another Christian artist - the energetic and outspoken Junie Foo, whose debut exhibition Reflections of the White Sky Aaron : Hi Junie, could you tell us a bit about how you came to be a Christian and also what you do professionally? Junie: I accepted Christ as a teenager when my cousin brought me to a Billy Graham crusade. But it was not until about four years ago that I decided to be baptised. Presently I work in a bank as a relationship manager, looking after the global corporate accounts. Aaron : Wow. Like many local artists, you are juggling several different roles. Could you like to tell us a bit about how long you've been painting, and how it all began for you? What inspires you and whose work has influenced your painting? Junie: I took up painting about 5 years ago. I had wanted to paint long before and one day I just decided not to procrastinate any further. So I got in touch with my former art teacher Tan Choo Kai, who used to teach us in high school. Since his retirement from teaching he has been a full-time artist, exploring many different media. Some other budding artists and I painted regularly at his home, and he would critique our work. I work mainly in oil, and I like to paint nature -- the mountains and sky being the most common motifs. Most of my work is impressionist-inspired, although of late I have been painting more abstract paintings. I like Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Mark Rothko, Kandinsky and Higashiyama Kai. Aaron : I remember your debut exhibition Reflections of The White Sky* Aaron : That's awesome! But it must be tough to be holding down a full-time job while pursuing painting. Junie: Yes. Sometimes I don't even start my painting till 10pm! Despite the late hour I would sometimes have this urge to paint, so I'd start bringing out my colours and easel. Aaron : Do you work for a long time on each painting? Junie: No, not really. I nearly always do most of a painting in one session. So you could say I work quickly. Of course, I often revisit the work after that initial session, to add detail or layers. But one session will essentially capture the inspiration that I had at that time.  The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.Psalm 97:1 Junie: Definitely. For my debut exhibition this year, I had Bible verses or phrases attached to each painting. I thought that it would be a discreet way of evangelising and testifying to God's wonders, like a tribute to Him. Most of the phrases were from the book of Psalms. I had very good comments in my guest book from certain people about how these Bible verses had touched them. You know, the verses from the Psalms really went well with my paintings. Here I was, attempting to convey the majesty and grandeur of the mountain landscapes, and the Psalms were saying the same thing, only in words. Throughout history, all of creation testifies to the glory of God. Aaron : Could you elaborate a little about the direction that you see your art going, and how your Christian walk has influenced it. For example, do you think Christian artists fundamentally see the world differently and express themselves differently from non-Christian artists? Junie: For me, my artistic pursuits are certainly a way of reaching out to people. Even before I started painting seriously I was in the dramatic arts, as a stage actor with a small production house, Hot CurrieTheatre. Now, I'm also involved with my church's creative arts ministry, putting together dance and drama for special events-- like Christmas, or our church anniversary. Next month I'm even going to be part of a dance at a Christmas event on Orchard Road! One thing is for sure, what we do should be for the glory of God. I hope to touch people's life through different art forms. Aaron : Do you follow what's being done in the local arts scene? Care to share your views on that? Junie: I find that a lot of what's happening in the arts now is angst-filled or sensationalist. To be sure, the uncertainty in people's lives is real, and that is part of artistic expression. But I also think there is a lot to celebrate. I'm not saying that art must always be "happy". It's just that, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I have that joy and hope in my heart, and it comes through in my own painting. It's part of who I am and it is my privilege to share that with others through my art. I guess I'm a naturally joyful person! For more images of Junie Foo's works from Reflections of The White Sky, pls visit http://www.theartshouse.com.sg/event_details.php?id=432 ------ * "Reflections of the White Sky is painter Junie Foo's debut solo exhibition at The Arts House. Drawing inspirations from man's continual faith in hope despite great adversity, Foo will showcase works that she has created in the past four years which are influenced by the refinement of Japanese paintings, landscapes in particular. Trained under the tutelage of art teacher and artist Tan Choo Kai, Foo first exhibited her works in August 2003 during an art exchange in Nagoya, Japan, along with works of Tan and eight other Singaporean potters and painters." Retrieved November 25, 2006, from http://www.theartshouse.com.sg/event_details.php?id=432
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