Meylinda Setyo (right), our newest artist, is the mother of Swasti Wonowidjojo (left), whose works include "Ruth in the Barley Field", "Many Sparrows" and “Everywhere You Look Blessings”.

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My family and I moved to Singapore in 1990 and I grew up here ever since. I was blessed to be exposed to the values and culture that make Singapore so unique and irreplaceable in my heart. My mother, Meylinda, also calls Singapore her home as she has stayed here for over 30 years. 

Having a deep passion and fascination with art runs in the family. My parents are devoted collectors of heritage pieces from around the globe and they would decorate the walls and tabletops of our home. In the 1990s, my mother used to run her own fashion line that specialised in casual batik wear.

Along the way, her interest in other types of craft began to grow, and she started learning pottery making and porcelain painting. To hone her craft, she would commit and frequently attend classes and workshops. Every so often, she would welcome artists into our home and have them conduct lessons too. To join in the fun, my siblings and I would tag along and enjoyed every one of these art adventures with Mom.

My mother has been a tremendous influence in me and my siblings’ journey of pursuing art. Today, my sister works for a 3D animation firm while my brother is getting his illustration degree at Pasadena Art Centre. It is a treasure to witness her love for beauty and excellence in the things that she makes.

My mother and I are very close-knit and share everything about our lives to each other. She is a woman of great wisdom and judgement and I confide in her for most of my decision-making. With the exception of golf, we share the same interest in everything! Besides being my mother, she is also my greatest friend. She never puts on an air about being an elder and sees me like a younger sister. I deeply appreciate and admire her.

This Mother’s Day, I would like to commemorate every mother that has deeply inspired her children to become who they are today. As the late American evangelist Billy Graham once said:

“The influence of a mother upon the lives of her children cannot be measured. They know and absorb her example and attitudes when it comes to questions of honesty, temperance, kindness and industry.”

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These days, my mother is learning to be a painter. Her first project was a watercolour artwork of Low Tide Café on Club Street. As an emerging artist, this was particularly interesting for my mother to paint because of its vibrant setting. Intrigued by the experience of "en plein air" painting, she learnt that the scene constantly changes. Such is nature. You cannot control how the scene moves and where it goes. She wanted to capture the liveliness yet tranquillity of this uniquely Singapore location.

2022

“Low Tide at Club Street" by Meylinda Setyo

[Watercolour on Paper, 54 x 35 cm]