YeoMama Club:
Arty Guava
Meet Lay Hoon, better known by her moniker Arty Guava, an artist whose journey from engineering
to multimedia design eventually led her to a thriving career in creative industries.
Her artwork, inspired by Singaporean themes and her Peranakan heritage, showcases a vibrant fusion of nature and cultural motifs.
Explore our new collection featuring Arty Guava to see how her unique perspective breathes new life into traditional artistic techniques.
Can you tell us about your background as an artist and how your journey led you to where you are today?
It's a pretty long story, so buckle up.
My passion for art was discovered at a very young age. I would spend hours filling in coloring books and creating kampung-themed artworks, often drawing houses on stilts and chickens. I'm not sure why, but it fascinated me.As I grew older, I was advised to focus on my studies and keep art as a hobby. As a dutiful daughter, I pursued a career in Engineering instead. Within a year of graduating, I felt bored and unmotivated with my engineering work. My husband (then boyfriend) encouraged me to follow my passion, saying that now as an adult, I should take charge of my life.
The very next day, I signed up for night classes to get a Diploma in Multimedia Design. Even then, I never allowed myself to dream of being an artist. Doing commercial design seemed more feasible and less risky. After graduating, I jumped straight into the creative industry, working on packaging and branding for local and international agencies in Singapore for over a decade.
Shortly after having my son, my family moved to Vancouver, and within a year, the pandemic hit. Feeling overwhelmed with homesickness, seasonal depression, juggling full-time work without daycare, social isolation, and the rise of Asian hate crimes in North America, I started illustrating daily to find solace and peace. Thinking I had nothing to lose, I began posting my work on Instagram. To my surprise, I slowly garnered a small following, and commissions started rolling in.
Two years later, I mustered the courage to quit my full-time job as an art director and focus solely on my art practice. I have never looked back since.
Could you walk us through your creative process for this project?
Having lived in Singapore for over a decade, I very much consider Singapore my home. I'm intimately familiar with the imagery that people often associate with Singapore, but I'm also careful to avoid anything that would make it look “too touristy”.
I drew my inspiration mostly from the native nature and tropical fruits found in local markets. Of course, the "singa" had to make an appearance in the collection as well. Since YeoMama Batik is a batik-focused brand, I researched the process and limitations of the technique to ensure the design turns out well.
Once I had an idea of the themes I wanted to explore, I started creating on my iPad and refining the designs in Photoshop before handing them over to the team at YeoMama Batik.
What were some of the key elements or motifs you incorporated into the collection, and why did you choose them?
Lion Frolicking
This design features a lion frolicking in a lush tropical landscape, playfully interacting with a durian. The lion is seen balancing the durian on its paws or chasing after it, presenting a whimsical take on two icons often associated with Singapore.
Tile Impression
Inspired by my Peranakan heritage, this design draws from the concept of tiles, each featuring flora and fauna native to Singapore and its surrounding areas. It's meant to be a discovery piece, where viewers can find and identify the various elements depicted.
Orchid Surprise
Orchids are a quintessential part of Singapore’s imagery, especially when the theme is the "Singapore Story". To bring a fresh perspective to this over-explored motif, I incorporated my "guava girls" into the design, imagining them playing in a garden of orchids, adding a personal and playful touch.
Island Paradise
Singapore truly embodies the concept of an island paradise, a fact I came to appreciate more after moving to the colder and gloomier North. This design is inspired by sunny, idyllic days spent in nature, capturing the essence of Singapore's vibrant and lush environment.
Tropical Delight
Incorporating fruit imagery is a hallmark of my work, particularly tropical fruits, which I view as symbols of abundance. Through this design, I aim to convey a sense of prosperity and well-being to my audience. I envisioned a vibrant picnic scene with a feast of tropical fruits laid out on a mat beneath palm trees, capturing the lush and bountiful spirit of a tropical paradise. This design is a celebration of nature's richness and a heartfelt wish for abundance in every form for those who experience it.
How do you see the intersection between traditional batik art and contemporary art in this collaboration?
In this collaboration, I aimed to respect the traditional batik process as much as possible. Handcrafted pieces carry a unique spirit, with slight imperfections that reflect the intention and skill of the craftsmen, something that machine-made items simply can't replicate.It was especially rewarding to hear from Desleen that the craftsmen were excited by my work, as they wanted to work on designs that are 'less traditional.' When two seemingly opposite styles meet with mutual respect, the outcome is often extraordinary. I'm very grateful for this opportunity to blend traditional batik art with contemporary elements.
What was the most rewarding aspect of collaborating on this project?
The most rewarding aspect of collaborating on this project was the chance to combine my love for fashion with my art. As a fan of fashion, I'm always excited about these collaborations because, aside from the fun of getting free clothing samples, fashion is a powerful form of self-expression and identity affirmation. Being a part of that conversation and seeing my designs come to life in wearable art has been incredibly fulfilling.
Can you discuss any challenges or creative decisions you faced when integrating Batik designs into your artwork?
Working with Desleen is a dream as she is very clear at communicating her vision for the collection and at the same time gives me a lot of space to express my artistic voice.
To be honest, I was initially worried that my work might not be well received because batik is a craft with so much history, and its traditional form is stunning. I feared that people might think I was disrupting this traditional art form just for the sake of making it more modern. However, after some thought, I realized that there is space for all forms of batik expression to exist, whether in its traditional form or in a modern interpretation. In the end, I felt happy and content with my output.
One of the technical challenges I faced was restricting the number of colours in my artwork due to the limitations of batik printing. Having worked with digital prints for most projects, where the sky is the limit with colours, this restriction gave me the opportunity to learn to be more mindful and intentional about my use of colours. It was an interesting learning experience for me.
What emotions or messages do you hope your artwork conveys to those celebrating Singapore National Day?
From Orchids to celebratory poses and lush tropical impressions of sunny Singapore, this collection is a heartfelt tribute to the beauty of our country. Embracing the theme of harmony, these artworks celebrate unity with oneself, others, and the natural environment. Let's cherish this harmony and strive to preserve it for years ahead.
I hope all those celebrating Singapore National Day will feel a deep sense of pride in who they are and where they come from. Not the kind of pride that comes from constant comparison and competition with others, but the kind of pride that stems from truly accepting and embracing what it means to be part of this beautiful country.
Singapore Story
From orchids to celebratory poses and lush impressions of sunny Singapore, this collection features exclusive prints designed by Arty Guava, and is a heartfelt tribute to the beauty of our country.
