LIM HSIANG IU AWS

林上祐

Architect Artist Scholar

 

“Hsiang Iu is only one of four of Singapore Watercolour Artists to have achieved Signature Membership to the American Watercolor Society since 1965, and only the second Singapore-born artist to do so.”

Hsiang Iu is from the island-nation of Singapore. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree with honors from the National University of Singapore and was subsequently awarded the prestigious Urban Redevelopment Authority Overseas Scholarship; and received a Master of Science degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University in New York.

He has been a practicing professional architect with his own firm for 38 years and is a Signatory Member of the Board of Architects and the Singapore Institute of Architects.

While growing up, most forms of art came intuitively to him, like painting, sculpture and photography. Having the opportunity to grow up in cosmopolitan cities like Washington DC, Bangkok, Tokyo and Hong Kong helped broaden his mindset. However, his journey in art was put on hold when his father guided him away from art and into the architecture profession.

In 2015, prompted by a friend, he finally had the opportunity to pursue his passion and picked up the brush again. This reignited his passion for watercolour painting. Being self-taught and a novice, he pitted himself at national and international levels to test the level of his abilities.

In 2016, he was elected as a Member of the Singapore Watercolour Society; and in 2019 he was accepted for the first time by the American Watercolor Society (AWS) for its Annual International Exhibition. This encouraged him to take up the art of watercolour seriously. By 2023, he was awarded the AWS Barse Miller Award and subsequently became a Signature Member. For him, the journey is just beginning; and he endeavours to further develop his skills as an aquarellist.

With no formal pedagogy in fine arts, Hsiang-Iu’s approach to painting is self-taught. His education and experience have fostered a strong aesthetic foundation that naturally carried through into his paintings. They are a reflection of his character and professional background; carefully executed, meticulous and detailed to a fault, with emphasis on light and shadow, and depth of field.

His paintings are a pure representation of what he thinks he sees, that are meaningful to him. They capture a snapshot of his mind’s eye through the passage of life. Thoughts, observations, ideas that have preoccupied his consciousness, both personally and professionally. Hopefully, the paintings may affect the viewer in his own way from his own life experiences.

 

Exhibitions & Awards

• Singapore Watercolour Society 47th to 55th Annual Exhibition, 2016–2024
• American Watercolor Society 152nd Annual International Exhibition, 2019
• The Watercolour Society of Western Australia, International Watercolour Exhibition Fremantle, 2020
• The 12th Incheon World Art Exhibition, 2021
• American Watercolor Society 156th Annual International Exhibition, 2023
• Barse Miller Memorial Award, 2023
• American Watercolor Society 157th Annual International Exhibition, 2024

 

Memberships & Appointments

• Signature Member, American Watercolor Society
• Member, Singapore Watercolour Society
• Managing Director, HSI Architects
• Director, HILADT Architects
• Registered Architect, Board of Architects
• Member, Singapore Institute of Architects

 

Education

• Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design, Columbia University
• Bachelor of Architecture with Honors, National University of Singapore
• Bachelor of Arts (Architectural Studies), National University of Singapore
• Urban Redevelopment Authority Overseas Post Graduate Scholarship