Ian’s Research Club 06: Roger Nelson

28 Apr

Suzann Victor, Jane Lee, Han Sai Por, and James Page On ‘The Tailors and The Mannequins: Chen Cheng Mei and You Khin’
By Ian Tee

Ian Tee and Roger Nelson. Photo by Woong Soak Teng.

Hello and welcome to Ian’s Research Club! Today, I am at the National Gallery Singapore to speak with art historian and curator Roger Nelson. His research approaches modern and contemporary arts of Southeast Asia from interdisciplinary perspectives, with a focus on Cambodia and Laos as points of intersection. In 2019, Roger joined the National Gallery Singapore (NGS) as curator.

In this episode, we discuss his exhibition ‘The Tailors and The Mannequins: Chen Cheng Mei and You Khin’ and the Gallery’s new project space ‘Dalam Southeast Asia’.

Click here to listen on Soundcloud. You can also find the podcast by searching “Ian’s Research Club” on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

‘The Tailors and The Mannequins’, 2021-22, exhibition view at Dalam Southeast Asia. Image courtesy of National Gallery Singapore.

You Khin, ‘Untitled (The Chinese Man Eats The Cambodian Soup)’, 1975, oil on canvas, 46 x 38cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.

You Khin, ‘Untitled (Public Scribes)’, 1993, oil on canvas, 65 x 54cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore.

Chen Cheng Mei, ‘Laundry (India)’, 2008, etching on paper, 47.5 x 60.5cm. Collection of the artist’s family, Singapore.

‘The Tailors and The Mannequins: Chen Cheng Mei and You Khin’ is on view at Dalam Southeast Asia, National Gallery Singapore from 29 October 2021 to 12 June 2022. Click here for more information and to access the exhibition catalogue.

Watch the exhibition tour here.