Art has always walked alongside the life of Tsuyumi Miwa—from her early years immersed in calligraphy and painting, to her time gracing the screen as an actress and delivering words as a broadcaster. Today, she continues this lifelong dialogue with creativity through her work as a visual artist.
Having lived in Japan, Italy, Australia, and now Singapore—her current base—Tsuyumi’s experiences across cultures have shaped a distinct artistic lens. With brush in hand once again, she explores the intersection of personal memory and the collective memory of Singapore, a land where diverse ethnicities and cultures coexist in vibrant harmony.
In this new column series, Story of Art, we begin by diving into Tsuyumi Miwa’s recent body of work, the Singapore Cultural Series. This ongoing series shines a spotlight on the unsung everyday heroes who form the backbone of Singapore’s multicultural society.
Let us begin by unraveling the story behind the painting that initiated this journey.
2. Say Tian Hng – Guardians of Taoist Craftsmanship
“In a world that worships speed, perfection, and change, there is beauty in things made by hand, with patience and time.
Tradition is not the past; it is a bridge between generations, a craft that endures in the hands of those who cherish it.”
These were the words that welcomed me as I stepped into a quiet little shop tucked away in Singapore’s Chinatown.
The place is called Say Tian Hng Buddha Shop — and in it lives a world almost untouched by time.
A Sacred Craft Rooted in the Community
Founded in 1840, Say Tian Hng is one of Singapore’s oldest remaining Taoist statue shops, and a rare sanctuary of hand-carved devotion.
For over a century, it has served the spiritual needs of local temples and households by producing Kim Sin (“gold bodies” in Hokkien)—wooden figurines of Taoist deities, each carefully sculpted and painted by hand.
These figurines are not mere decorative objects. Each represents a spiritual being deeply rooted in the Taoist cosmology—a richly layered hierarchy shaped by Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism.
At its peak is the Jade Emperor, ruler of Heaven, surrounded by countless deities that represent nature, ancestors, emotions, and the rhythms of daily life.
While many in the younger generation may not be familiar with the intricacies of this belief system, Say Tian Hng remains a treasured presence in the Chinese community, especially among the elderly.
It is a place where prayers are transformed into form—wood, paint, and spirit, brought together by patient hands.
A Legacy in Every Stroke and Chisel
Today, the shop is run by Ng Yeow Hua, a third-generation artisan whose calm precision reveals a life spent in devotion to his craft. Working beside him is his mother, Tan Chwee Lian, now 94 years old and still painting with delicate grace.
Their work is slow, meticulous, and wholly human.
Using only traditional tools—chisels, mallets, bamboo sticks, brushes—each deity is formed not through machines, but through time. Every line painted by Madam Tan, every curve sculpted by Mr. Ng, carries with it generations of memory and mastery.
I had the honor of painting their portrait. In it, I tried to capture not just their likeness, but the quiet power of their commitment. They are more than artisans—they are guardians of a tradition, caretakers of belief.
Where Time Moves Differently
Unlike the sleek glass buildings that surround it, Say Tian Hng asks you to slow down.
To breathe.
To look closely.
It is a place of contrasts: vibrant colors in a muted space, the smell of wood in a concrete city, old gods in a new world.
It reminds us that not everything has to be fast. That there is value in what takes time.
In our rush to innovate, we often forget what we’re leaving behind. Yet here, amid the scent of incense and the sound of chiseling wood, I felt something profoundly modern—an enduring act of care.
If you ever find yourself in Singapore, I encourage you to seek out this hidden corner of Chinatown.
Not as a tourist, but as a listener. Let the statues speak. Let the silence teach.
To learn more about Say Tian Hng and its history:
https://www.saytianhng.com/family
🌕 About this Series
Story of Art will be updated every full moon.
Stay tuned for the next installment on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
