President Halimah Yacob is Singapore's eighth and first female president. She is also the first Malay president since Mr Yusof Ishak and the first head of state to live in public housing while in office. In this work, commissioned in the final year of her presidency in 2023, the artist's skillful, realistic depiction of the President is complemented by the expressive and vibrant background. While this work is based on a photograph, the artist has creatively added elements such as orchids, the national flower of Singapore. Born in Guangzhou, China, in 1963, Fan Shao Hua graduated from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts with a BA in Fine Arts in 1985. Since moving to Singapore in 1992, he has won several notable accolades including the 2000 UOB Painting of the Year Award (Open Section). The artist is highly versatile and works across the medium of oil, ink and watercolour.
