Eng Siak Loy 翁锡礼

Eng Siak Loy was born in China and moved to Singapore with his family when he was eight years old. His artistic journey began from the now-defunct Singapore Art Academy in 1960. After his graduation, he moved on as a graphic designer for the former Radio and Television Singapore before transferring to the Ministry of Education as a senior graphic artist. He worked at the Housing and Development Board in 1972, then moving on to the National Parks Board’s graphic and art department until his retirement in 2009.

Outside of his day job, Eng Siak Loy also designed collaterals used to inform the public about the government’s policies and practices as well as stamps, coins, and currency notes. His stamp designs for the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East’s (ECAFE) 25th Plenary Session became the first of more than 50 issues he has developed. In 1999, he also designed the whole Portrait Series of Singapore currency notes, which are still in circulation today and feature Singapore’s first Head of State, Yusof Ishak. In 2007, Eng Siak Loy was named Designer of the Year by the President’s Design Award. He is a well-known figure in Singapore’s art scene, having held a number of solo and group shows.