Author Description

Goh Beng Kwan is recognised for his masterful use of collage to explore issues around identity, cultural representation, and urban life. "Nervous City" is a phrase Goh often uses to describe New York, where he lived in the 1960s, to allude to its frenetic pace, high stress level and polluted atmosphere. It may also express his sentiments towards the rapidly industrialising cityscape of Singapore upon his return in 1966. Featuring essays, interviews, and the artist's photographs alongside his artworks, this catalogue explores how the urban environment has shaped the material and cultural basis for Goh's artmaking from the 1950s to the 1990s. This publication is part of Something New Must Turn Up: Six Singaporean Artists After 1965, a joint exhibition of six artistic forerunners that actively expanded the boundaries of art in post-independence Singapore.