Sweet Love (Tan Teng Niah House)
Oil and acrylic on canvas, 150cm x 90cm x 2
Sweet Love is a vibrant diptych inspired by the iconic Tan Teng Niah House in Little India. The title pays homage to Tan Teng Niah himself, a businessman known for his sweet-making factories, an origin that adds a playful layer to the work.
In these paintings, the building’s famously colourful façade is rendered in a loose, painterly style, bursting with energy and cultural pride. In contrast, the window panels reveal black-and-white figurative scenes of couples entwined, painted with a more traditional and realistic technique. This juxtaposition creates a visual and conceptual tension: the lively exterior of heritage and celebration set against intimate, hidden moments of human connection.
Commissioned by a client seeking a nod to their Indian heritage while embracing something bold and fun, Sweet Love merges architectural nostalgia with my love for figure painting and turning a cherished landmark into a playful exploration of desire, history, and identity.
