A critical challenge in historical scholarship involves the limited public dissemination and engagement associated with traditional academic textual formats. Visual art offers a compelling alternative methodology for translating complex historical, cultural, and heritage narratives through a visual lexicon that fosters public accessibility and deepens connection to the past. This paper details an interdisciplinary art education exhibition that re-contextualizes historical scholarship through practice-based visual art. The project employs a Practice-as-Research (PaR) methodology, involving the qualitative, documentary-based translation of Associate Professor Stephen Dobbs’ seminal work, The Singapore River: A Social History 1819-2002. The resultant nine interpretive acrylic paintings utilize a semiotics of place, employing symbolic color palettes and structural forms derived from the architectural heritage of shophouses and bumboats to articulate the river's diachronic and synchronic narratives. A key feature is the introduction of two narrative personae, "Ah Huat" (representing the past) and "Wei Wei" (representing the present), establishing a visual dialogue across eras. Each artwork is supported by a synopsis and selected scholarly quotations, grounding the artistic interpretation in historical rigor. The exhibition was strategically sited from August 16 to September 29, 2025, at The Fullerton Hotel East Garden Gallery along the Singapore River, utilizing the sense of place to enhance the viewer's experiential context. The event also included an educational free bumboat workshop and an artist talk. Functioning dually as a pedagogical resource and a contribution to PaR, this study demonstrates the viability of interdisciplinary collaboration for revitalizing academic content and establishing new modalities for historical discourse within contemporary visual practice.

Authors:
Chung Oi Kok, Independent Scholar, Singapore

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Kay Kok Chung Oi is an interdisciplinary artist, art educator, and researcher based in Singapore. She holds a diverse portfolio and currently serves as a curriculum specialist and art facilitator for learners with special needs.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-kay-kok-chung-oi-ed-d-24163236/

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