Surreal Satirical Singaporean Paintings
Hi! Im Toh Kwan Rzen, a Singaporean artist. These are some psychological and surreal satirical paintings I have created as a youth growing up in Singapore. Drawing inspiration from a state of tension and neurosis under the pressures of Singapore, I attempt to channel the spirit and atmosphere of the humid urban world into various encapsulated moods. In my works, I personify colloquial and singlish terms into mindscapes and archetypal characters.
First slide:
And then I Merlioned
Oil on Canvas
This painting was created out of nauseating sentiments about the minimalist and clinical art scene in singapore, the suffocation of urban stimuli, and the loss of Singaporean identity. It was exhibited at the Fluxus House Gallery in 2025.
Second Slide:
Bin Chao Chao
Mixed media on pink construction paper
'Bin Chao Chao', a Singaporean colloquial term(Hokkien) directly translated to "face smelly" in Mandarin Chinese(脸臭臭), is a deliberate association with the durian's distinct odour.
Third Slide:
Kanchiong Spider
Acrylic on canvas board
The spirit animal of pressure cooker citizens.
Creating an archetype of ingrained anxiety.
"Kanchiong or Kan Cheong(Cantonese) Spider" is a Singaporean colloquial term humorously used to describe people who are prone to being in a state of anxiety.