The creative process of 37-year-old Singaporean textile artist Tiffany Loy stems from a natural curiosity and wonder about the way things work. “I’m constantly questioning everything I see and why I see them that way,” she shares. “It can be as simple as questioning the colour or form of a particular object and how one reacts to it.”
Initially trained in industrial design, Loy is currently one of the hottest names in the local fine arts scene. Represented by fine arts gallery Sullivan+ Strumpf, and boasting an expansive portfolio that includes exhibitions at international design weeks and commercial collaborations with Raffles Hotel and National Library Board Singapore, her work is often a smorgasbord of vibrant shades and surrealist shapes that play on the ugly and unconventional. “My work explores shifting perceptions of colour and form, using my pet medium which I call the pliable line (mostly fibre),” she explains. “I see lines as my building blocks, which I interlace to create sculptural forms and weavings.”
View this post on Instagram
Loy prides herself on playing with her audience’s visions of the inanimate by tinkering with the fundamental mechanics of sight. “I realised early on that the human mind registers colour and texture differently based on size and scale, which meant that we could all be looking at the same installation but registering and reacting differently to it. That inconsistency is something I find absolutely fascinating.”
“As an artist, it all boils down to honing your mental clarity—finding resolution in whatever you do and the messaging you are putting across.”
This obsession with colour and texture can be seen in Loy’s wardrobe, which consists mostly of relaxed linen separates in earthy hues of marmalade, ecru and sage. Similar to fine art, she sees fashion as a form of self-expression, but with a different mode of consumption and business model built around it. “Fine art tends to be deeply personal, especially when each piece is unique, while fashion has the power to reach massive audiences and at great speed,” she muses.
Loy is also quick to note the importance of balancing creativity and commerciality within her line of work. “It’s all about communicating to the right group of people who would appreciate your work, so you don’t have to change yourself.” The same sentiments could be echoed about staying authentic and true to one’s vision and ethos, unencumbered by external industry noise or societal pressures. “For me, it all boils down to honing your mental clarity as an artist—finding resolution in whatever you do and the messaging you are putting across. Often we think we know what we are experiencing and dealing with at that very moment, when we really don’t. Sometimes the biggest change can come from a simple shift in perspective or a change in environment, which makes all the difference.”
Photography Rachel Loh
Styling Bryan Ho
Hair and Make-up Zhou Aiyi using Keune Hair cosmetics and Make Up For Ever
Photographer’s assistant Christopher Wong
Vogue Singapore’s January/February ‘Resolution’ issue is now out on newsstands and available online.
