MR CHIA MIA CHIANG
It is with great joy and pride that I extend NAFA’s warmest congratulations to the graduating cohort of 2014.
I would like to commend the Graduating Class of 2014 for the outstanding graduation shows and events which demonstrate the breadth of disciplines and depth of your artistic training, infused with a strong NAFA spirit.
As Picasso famously said, “Every act of creation is first an act of destruction”. It follows that there is a story to be told behind every artwork, piece of music or design solution. After your years of rigorous training at NAFA, you are no stranger to the intense hard work that the creative process demands. It is never easy, and involves endless working and reworking of concepts, intense discussions with peers and mentors, as well as evaluating and taking calculated risks. Remember that your artistic practice will influence people’s lives in a most meaningful way - to make them sit up, take notice and rethink the world as we know it.
I have no doubt that you have been well-guided by your enthusiastic lecturers. They have fine-tuned your artistic sensibilities and instilled a firm sense of discipline that should be the hallmark of every capable artist. Be prepared to work, and work hard, as your NAFA education takes you places and onto the world’s most creative stages to allow you to shine just like those before you.
Last year, we saw three alumni added to our already impressive list of ten Young Artist Award recipients, bringing the tally to 13. I urge you to keep your artistic passion burning and your goal in sight. A career is built up step by step, and you should seize every opportunity – big or small - that comes your way.
To the Graduating Class of 2014, the world beyond NAFA awaits your contributions as creative thinkers, movers and shakers. We wish you the very best and may your journey in the arts be a meaningful, fulfilling and rewarding one.
Mr Chia Mia Chiang
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
President
DAT MESSAGES
MESSAGES FOR THE GRADUANDS
PRESIDENT OF NAFA
I am pleased to congratulate the students of Art Teaching on completing three fulfilling years in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Their graduation show, “O” is a milestone in their journey in becoming future teachers. The class of 2014 comprises of 11 young artists, who will showcase what they have learnt through years of art practices, with a wide variety of works that include paintings, drawings, mixed media, photography, digital publication, animation and graphic design.
As they take on new challenges and grow from student artists to future art educators, I hope that they will continue to strive beyond adversity and exceed their own expectations.
It is my sincerest hope that they take all the lessons learnt in school with them on their journey towards becoming inspiration for the next generation. Once again, I wish them all the best.
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
MR TAN OOH CHYE
DEPUTY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
“O” is like a metaphorical symbol that represents the 11 individuals of this class coming together as one to celebrate their graduation from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Encompassing a commendable blend of passion, tenacity and the willingness to take risks in order to push new frontiers, I find great pleasure in being able to witness their growth throughout the past three years. In teaching them, I have also been taught.
This journey has been a fruitful experience in which they broadened their perspectives in the many facets of art, such as drawing, painting, design, and art history and theory.
Now that you are one step closer to being professional art educators, moving on to a new stage of life can be a challenging process. I wish all of you success in your careers and all the best in your future endeavours.
MR TAN CHWEE SENG
CHAIRPERSON
‘O’ is the culmination of a three-year-long journey in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. As chairperson, I am both pleased and proud to be a part of the ‘O’ show with the rest of my classmates.
Through the process of producing our own artworks to putting together an exhibition, I have been extremely privileged to work with such an enthusiastic and encouraging bunch of people. The creation of this show would never have been possible without each and every one of them.
On behalf of my class, I would also like to express my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated lecturers, who have never failed to support us and push us to accomplish more than we knew we could.
To my dear classmates, my compliments to all on the occasion of our graduation show. Though it is only the beginning of our career, but with the conduct that we bring, I believe we can achieve so much more.
Three cheers,
Adibah Azri Zulkifli
ADIBAH AZRI
#DATOSHOW
