The stories behind our labels 标签的故事

Tea is a form of art — there is no debate about it.
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At Camellia Tea Bar, we extend this philosophy beyond the cup. Each year, our Signature Collection labels become a canvas to celebrate creativity, featuring passionate artists and documenting the evolution of their artistic expression.

In recent years, we have focused on Singaporean artists, supporting emerging and established talents whose work resonates with our commitment to craft, heritage, and cultural dialogue. These collaborations bring art into daily life, connecting tea lovers with contemporary creativity while fostering a societal value of nurturing young creatives.
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We invite artists to share their work, keeping the wave of beauty energetic and evolving. By integrating art with tea, the Signature Collection becomes more than a tasting experience — it is a platform for expression, a celebration of talent, and a testament to creativity in society.

2023

Initial resolution 初心

Ho Sou Ping, Singapore

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Ho Sou Ping began his journey in art at the age of 13, training in calligraphy and painting under the late 2nd-generation artist Chuan Keng Boon. To pursue his passion for art, Sou Ping took the bold step of bidding farewell to a long-time career in the aerospace engineering sector to become a full-time artist in 2009. In the same year he also founded artcommune gallery, which has grown to be a leading platform for Singapore artists. Adds the artist, “Some friends have advised that I give up painting and concentrate on my gallery business, but when I think of Mr. Chuan who selflessly taught and nurtured our artistic passion when he could have focussed the time and energy on his own art practice, I know I must persist in this path that I have chosen.”
Over the past decade, Sou Ping has expanded into oil and watercolour painting and made painting trips to other countries like Malaysia, Bali, Greece, Germany and Tibet to explore new landscapes and colours in his expression. He often looks out for opportunities to learn from the best of the best in any discipline, believing that this is the fastest way to improve as an artist.​ Continue reading on www.ac43gallery.com

Photograph by:

Nicholas yeo, 2023

2022

Colours & Flesh 色身

Wong Keen, Singapore

Born in Singapore in 1942, Wong Keen’s prodigious talent in painting was evident since childhood. At age 19, Wong Keen held his first solo exhibition at the then National Library of Singapore and moved to America in that same year after being accepted by the prestigious Art Students League of New York. When Wong Keen departed in 1961, he was the first Singaporean to pursue art education in New York and the first Asian and Singaporean to have won the Edward G. McDowell Travelling Scholarship (1965) in the history of Art Students League...continue reading on www.wongkeen.com

Photographed by:

unknown

2021

forgotten trades of Singapore  被遗忘的行业

Tong Chin Sye, Singapore

​Tong Chin Sye (b. 1939, Singapore -) is a multi-media artist trained in both Western and Chinese art. His dynamic oeuvre includes watercolor, oil, Chinese ink and mixed media paintings. Tong was previously a part-time lecturer in Western Art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and has participated in numerous local and overseas exhibitions over the years. He clinched the first prize in the Port of Singapore Authority Open Art Competition in 1987 and represented Singapore at the Flemish Watercolor Days held at Zaventen, Belgium in 1988.
 
An avid traveler, Tong has journeyed across continents in his painterly quest for fresh scenes and cultural understanding. Be it a bustling town scene or a quiet backyard in a provincial village; laborer by the seaside or folks going about their daily routines, Tong’s paintings absorb us through the curious, reflective lens of a traveler who explores the life and customs of others through the graininess of everyday life. The assiduous combination of East-West techniques also reflects his multifaceted art training.

Photograph by:

Marque low, 2022

2020

The conspirators  阴谋者

Suthamma (Ta) Thimkaeo, Thailand

“It would be easier for me to walk on the moon than to become an artist’, Ta once said.
​She grew up in a rural farming village, with little or no access to electricity and clean source of water. Today, Ta’s paintings hang in private and public collections around the world. Including some iconic places like; New York, London, Paris, Dubai, Shanghai and Sydney. In fact, She has sent her work to over 50 countries now. She is also the No 1 best seller with ArtFinder and Singulart, and one of the most outstanding emerging artists of Saatchi Art. "Not bad for a girl from the rice fields," she reckoned. 
​“The Egg lady was the original Egg, Ta often paints late at night and I go to bed early, I got up one morning and popped into Ta’s studio and saw the egg lady. I said to Ta that will never sell, no-one is going to buy that. I put it for sale it sold within hours we were inundated and sold many Eggs all round the world. ” Gary, husband of Ta.

Photographed by:

Nicholas Yeo, 2021

2019

The yule 聖誕

Dayna Chua, 21

Pursuing her passion in art, which developed from the tender age of four, Dayna used different styles and medium of painting techniques to create the mood for when she was inspired. Each to a class by itself, distinct and fluid.

Photographed by:

Clarence Aw, 2020

2018

source 窦

Founder, CAMELLIA茗岩®

This is derived from a doodle. Using charcoal, which is essential in the making of traditional oolong, to interpret the Nine Bend River that runs through the Wuyi Scenic Area where the tea is thriving. It reminds us of the origins, and to always stay true. It too resembles a snake, symbolising continuity and creativity.

Photographed by:

Marque Low, 2019