To Nagoya-born painter Tsuyumi Miwa, Singapore’s heritage is not just written in books, but rather lives in the hands of artisans, in the scents of morning markets and in commitment to tradition.
When she began work on her recent collection of paintings titled the Singapore Culture Series featuring artisans and people from all walks of life, she was resolved that her paintings would be a tribute to their craft. The only way to do so, according to her, was by fostering authentic friendships with them.
One of the friends she made through the creation of this series was K Rajendran, 61, who inspired her Thaipusam painting. Tsuyumi first saw him at last year’s Thaipusam procession, pierced with rods, carrying a kavadi. She was taken by the trance-like state he had slipped into, surrendering to Hindu deity Murugan. In that moment, she recognised something extraordinary about him that needed to be captured on canvas.
Normally, Tsuyumi conducts interviews with her subjects to learn about their backgrounds, but the bustle of Thaipusam kept her from speaking to the devotees directly. Instead, she relied on observation to convey the raw energy of the moment.
“Meeting Raj in person and getting to know him confirmed the initial feeling I had,” she said.
“All the artisans I have painted are part of my destiny, and Raj is no exception. Our paths crossed in a way that felt inevitable.”
During their time together, Tsuyumi said their connection evolved beyond that of artist and subject, growing into a bond rooted in a shared appreciation for tradition.
“Singapore has been my home for 13 years, but I attended Thaipusam for the first time only last year. I was so deeply touched and appreciative that they allowed me in their space to capture a moment that I have now painted,” said Tsuyumi, who is married to a Briton.
It took Tsuyumi nearly ten months to complete the portrait of Rajendran, finishing in November last year. He saw the painting for the first time in January.
“It was a pleasant surprise to see it. My family came with me to see it for the first time and it was a special moment for us. I am so thankful that she created a portrait of me,” said Rajendran, an operations manager at a secondary school.
Tsuyumi, as a show of appreciation and support, returned to this year’s Thaipusam procession to watch him carry a kavadi again.
Before moving here in 2012, Tsuyumi was a radio broadcaster in Tokyo. After her stint at the station came to an abrupt end due to funding issues, she decided to explore opportunities abroad, with Italy, New York and London on her shortlist. However, her childhood friend who was based in Singapore at the time convinced her to move here.
Tsuyumi said she fell in love with the country and never looked back. She learnt how to paint at a young age, but revisited the art form only after coming to Singapore.
“At a young age, I became proficient at calligraphy and started painting,” she said. “As a teenager, I became involved in television and acted in various Japanese dramas, before entering Tama Art University to study Theatre and Art.
“I rediscovered my love for painting in Singapore. In the past, I used many different mediums, but I am currently using acrylics which I find better suited to the tropical atmosphere. Colour and light are very important to me as my work is an expression of feeling.”
In addition to Rajendran, Tsuyumi also painted a portrait of Sevugan Ponnalagu, a female garland seller in Little India, with whom she developed a close friendship.
“Ponna”, as Tsuyumi affectionately calls her, even invited Tsuyumi to her son’s wedding earlier this month. “I am so touched she liked me enough to invite me, I felt very emotional about it,” Tsuyumi said.
“These paintings are not just images, they are stories of dedication, love and knowledge, passed from one generation to the next,” she said.
For her, the value of her paintings is inseparable from the memories she holds of the people that inspired them.
The Singapore Heritage Festival will be carrying Tsuyumi’s artwork at Gardens by the Bay in a digital format in May.
Reema Dudekula
