Florence Suryawan

Florence Suryawan 楊飞云
A third-generation overseas Chinese born in 1962, Florence is the daughter of a scholar-turned-businessman who built up his empire as a publisher and printer.
Florence belongs to a unique generation who grew up in the era of 'Order Baru' (New Order) of the Suharto government during which Chinese culture and language were suppressed. Under the policy to assimilate the Chinese, her name was changed and her father adopted a new surname for the family. Florence spent her early childhood in Jakarta where she was enrolled in a prestigious Catholic girls' school. Dancing and drawing soon became a big part of her life. Come festive seasons she would perform Balinese, Javanese and other tribal dances organized by her school.
In those years, Florence's father would take her to Bali, often with a group of his company's photographers who were on missions for their next publications. They would be at dance performances, ceremonial events, lingered at the padi fields and visited the temples. "Those topless women were exactly how I saw them then."
In 1972, Florence's parents took her and her three brothers to Singapore so that they could learn Chinese. An intellect who is well-recognized for his contribution to t...

Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan

- Christmas Collective, December 2013, Singapore
- Solo Exhibition: "My Imaginary Girl Friends" Dec 2013 - Jan 2014, Singapore
- Group Exhibition, MOCA @ Lowen, May 2014, Singapore
- Solo Exhibition, Padang Golf Modern, March 2015, Jakarta