Anngie Chuah
Cherrybrook Technology High School
FOREIGN FAMILIARITY
Painting
Acrylic paint, ink, string lights, lace, dictionary paper, coloured paper
Foreign Familiarity examines how the places and things we view in our childhood change as we grow up. Inspired by my childhood in Singapore, it is a nostalgic representation of the innocence of childhood and my loss of culture and memories in moving to Australia. I used bold, dynamic colours for the buildings and as a base, under the lighter tones of the sky and roads, with the intention of conveying the feeling of childhood brightness masked by our older perceptions of familiar landscapes. My body of work references Singaporean scenery but distorts it to communicate this change in viewpoint.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Izumi Kogahara, Lucy Jones, Jabbar Muhammad
Marker's Commentary
Foreign Familiarity is a series of four acrylic paintings that examines the student’s cross-cultural identity, blending personal and cultural themes. These works depict diverse scenes as mindscapes, symbolising the fluidity of memory while celebrating the innocence of childhood experienced during the transition from Singapore to Australia. The paintings prominently feature significant landmarks, cultural icons and festivals, highlighting the richness of family heritage and nostalgic reflections. Dynamic leading lines guide viewers through these complex, whimsical streetscapes and memories, enriched by bright, playful colours. The contrast between dark tones and lighter backgrounds enhances the confident interplay of shadow and light, symbolising moments of clarity and insight within the context of cultural identity.