Yeo Hoe Koon, born in Hainan, China in 1935, moved to Malaysia at a young age. He graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 1957 and later furthered his studies in France and travelled extensively across Western Europe. Returning to Singapore in 1968, he continued his practice as both an artist and curator.

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Influenced by his years in France, Yeo Hoe Koon ’s works blend Eastern and Western artistic languages. In the 1970s, he gradually shifted from Eastern-inspired ink painting towards abstraction, incorporating elements of French modern art.

 

Yeo Hoe Koon received the National Day Art Exhibition Special Award in 1975, a Commendation at the Singapore Australian Art Award in 1984, and the Salute 55! Award from Malaysia’s National Visual Arts Gallery in 2013 in recognition of his contribution to the arts.