Pateo
With a humble brush and an unending vibrant dream, Pateo walked into his cosy home studio and recounted his story of becoming one of Singapore’s celebrated artists. Pateo's journey to becoming an artist and finally the UOB Painting of the Year Silver Medalist was not a straight path. He first started as a graphic and interior designer, then ventured into the world of gemmology before finally picking up the brush.
However, his diverse background and wealth of experiences not only added to the depth and richness of his paintings but served as an inspiration to many, including his daughter, who most recently participated in an exhibition alongside him at Pan Pacific Singapore last year.
Born in the 1940s, Pateo has lived through a rich and transformative period in Singapore's history, from the Japanese occupation to independence and beyond. His childhood memories of these times, amidst the challenges and changes, are the very inspirations that drive his unique and captivating art.
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Now at more than 80 years old, Pateo continues to paint from memory, without the aid of any visual references. His paintings are a testament to his unwavering recollection and the depth of his emotions. Each stroke of his brush tells a deeply moving story, rich with history and meaning, transporting us to another time, a time when life was simple and full of joy. They remind us of the beauty of the world, and the importance of cherishing our memories.
His Silver Medal UOB Painting of the Year art piece, Gliding Down Ann Siang Hill Road, reminded us just that. Despite living in a post-war era where building facades were marred with cracks evidently from bomb blasts, we witness, through the lenses of his painting, the unhindered joy from the children zooming down the Ann Siang Hill on a trishaw. Ann Siang Hill still exists today, but despite having refurbished walls and perfectly asphalted roads, that innocent laughter and joy are hardly seen these days.
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With his distinctive style, Pateo combines exaggerated, gestural figures with heavy sgraffito techniques and theatrical chiaroscuro. His dramatic, caricature-like expressions are a refreshing contrast to the solemnity often associated with scenes from the past. He breathes new life into these memories, casting a celebratory light on the past and mingling nostalgia with humour.
Indeed, despite being an established artist in his own right, Pateo remains a true gemmologist. Similar to how he discovered great value from a pool of old ores, he helped us, through his paintings, to unfold new gem from the past that is to be cherished in the present.
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