Singaporean veteran singer Wu Gang, the popular singer of the 1970s, is now 78 years old and his pace of life has slowed down with age. Besides occasionally participating in charity performances and teaching singing, in recent years he has been focusing more on his passion for painting, and has held his first solo art exhibition.
In an interview, Wu Gang talked about how holding an art exhibition had always been his dream, and now that he has finally achieved it, he feels an immense sense of satisfaction. He said: "I loved painting back in the day, but never had the chance to hold an exhibition. Preparing for this solo show really was quite a challenge, and I put a lot of thought into it." In an interview in 2022, he mentioned his hope to create more works he personally enjoys. When asked then if he was considering holding an exhibition, he answered: "I do have the idea, but didn't dare think too much about it yet." Now that his dream has come true, he feels very content.
He admitted that organizing this exhibition made him realize how challenging it could be, and that the hardest part was deciding on themes for the paintings, "because many of the works come from imagination, so it's not easy to (categorize) them." Many of his works feature themes of architecture and natural scenery, with both realistic pieces depicting scenes from Singapore and abroad, as well as many that stem purely from his imagination.
Asked if he might hold another solo exhibition in the future, Wu Gang laughed and said: "Of course, I hope so, but putting on an exhibition takes a lot of effort and energy, so it's hard to say what the future holds."
Wu Gang shared that many friends from the entertainment industry and his singing classes, as well as alumni from Hua Yi Secondary School such as Hong Huifang, came to show their support. Wu Gang had mentioned in previous interviews that his days at Hua Yi Secondary School were among his happiest and most beautiful, so seeing old classmates come to support the exhibition made him feel especially grateful.
Wu Gang shot to fame in the 1970s with the record "A Star on the Horizon". Yet in 1971, he resolutely left his singing career behind to study interior design in London, UK. Four years later, he returned home as a qualified professional designer and spent many years in the interior design industry. Now retired from interior design, he picked up his paintbrush again in 2022, exploring various forms including ink and oil painting.
He said back in those days, design work had to completely comply with clients' requirements and lacked room for personal expression. After retirement, his painting style is now entirely his own, giving him the artistic freedom he craved, and his art tends towards modern styles.
The "Wu Gang's Art" exhibition will be held at Hai Hui Artspace (1 Coleman Street #04-46 The Adelphi S179803) until May 30. Wu Gang said this exhibition took about four months to prepare, showcasing nearly 30 works. When asked if he had a personal favorite, he chose one titled "Nation Building Journey", which depicts founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his wife Kwa Geok Choo, along with a young Lee Hsien Loong, portraying the journey and emotions during Singapore's formative years. To complete this work, he referenced many old photographs. In addition, a painting about Tan Kah Kee is also particularly dear to him.
Having slowed down in his eighties, Wu Gang frankly admits that at this age, he's not as agile as before in many respects, so he pays special attention to health, emphasizing a diet low in salt and oil and ensuring adequate nutrition. Now, he focuses on painting and teaching singing, occasionally taking part in charity performances, and devotes more time to the things he loves.
One recent and notable event is his participation in 2025 in Mediacorp's program "Tuesday Report" for an extended interview about "A Generation of Singing Stars." The show covers his years-long artistic journey and life story, holding special meaning for him. He shared that the entire filming and interview process took about a year, requiring multiple recording sessions, and it gave him the chance to revisit all the key moments of his journey, triggering many precious memories.
He admitted that organizing this exhibition made him realize how challenging it could be, and that the hardest part was deciding on themes for the paintings, "because many of the works come from imagination, so it's not easy to (categorize) them." Many of his works feature themes of architecture and natural scenery, with both realistic pieces depicting scenes from Singapore and abroad, as well as many that stem purely from his imagination.
Asked if he might hold another solo exhibition in the future, Wu Gang laughed and said: "Of course, I hope so, but putting on an exhibition takes a lot of effort and energy, so it's hard to say what the future holds."
Wu Gang shared that many friends from the entertainment industry and his singing classes, as well as alumni from Hua Yi Secondary School such as Hong Huifang, came to show their support. Wu Gang had mentioned in previous interviews that his days at Hua Yi Secondary School were among his happiest and most beautiful, so seeing old classmates come to support the exhibition made him feel especially grateful.
Wu Gang shot to fame in the 1970s with the record "A Star on the Horizon". Yet in 1971, he resolutely left his singing career behind to study interior design in London, UK. Four years later, he returned home as a qualified professional designer and spent many years in the interior design industry. Now retired from interior design, he picked up his paintbrush again in 2022, exploring various forms including ink and oil painting.
He said back in those days, design work had to completely comply with clients' requirements and lacked room for personal expression. After retirement, his painting style is now entirely his own, giving him the artistic freedom he craved, and his art tends towards modern styles.
The "Wu Gang's Art" exhibition will be held at Hai Hui Artspace (1 Coleman Street #04-46 The Adelphi S179803) until May 30. Wu Gang said this exhibition took about four months to prepare, showcasing nearly 30 works. When asked if he had a personal favorite, he chose one titled "Nation Building Journey", which depicts founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and his wife Kwa Geok Choo, along with a young Lee Hsien Loong, portraying the journey and emotions during Singapore's formative years. To complete this work, he referenced many old photographs. In addition, a painting about Tan Kah Kee is also particularly dear to him.
Having slowed down in his eighties, Wu Gang frankly admits that at this age, he's not as agile as before in many respects, so he pays special attention to health, emphasizing a diet low in salt and oil and ensuring adequate nutrition. Now, he focuses on painting and teaching singing, occasionally taking part in charity performances, and devotes more time to the things he loves.
One recent and notable event is his participation in 2025 in Mediacorp's program "Tuesday Report" for an extended interview about "A Generation of Singing Stars." The show covers his years-long artistic journey and life story, holding special meaning for him. He shared that the entire filming and interview process took about a year, requiring multiple recording sessions, and it gave him the chance to revisit all the key moments of his journey, triggering many precious memories.