Stamps are often seen as miniature works of art. In this stamp issue, 20 artworks from two renowned Singapore artists, Liu Kang and Ong Kim Seng are reproduced on our stamps making the stamps little masterpieces worth collecting!

A sheetlet of 10 stamps featuring 10 of Liu Kang's painting and another sheetlet of 10 stamps featuring Ong Kim Seng's paintings will be released on 18 Feb 2004.

Two first day covers will be available for this issue. Each cover is specially designed to complement the stamps of the respective artist.

Liu Kang is the most revered figure in Singapore art. Liu Kang, together with a handful of pioneer artists, pioneered the Nanyang style, which helped Singapore create its very own identity in the art world. The Nanyang style combined Chinese techniques with Western influences. Apart from being a prolific painter, Liu Kang also taught art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. As a teacher of many younger artists, Liu Kang continues to be a strong influence in much of Singapore art.

Liu Kang was awarded the Public Service Star in 1970 and the Meritorious Service Medal in 1996 for his outstanding contribution to the visual arts scene in Singapore.

Ong Kim Seng was a full-time artist since 1985 and is Singapore's most prominent and internationally decorated expert in the art of water-colour painting. An avid traveller, he travelled far and wide to many countries such as Bali, Nepal, Tibet and China, usually painting on location. His favourite subjects are the "vanishing" scenes of old Singapore such as Pulau Ubin, pre-war habitats and historic landmarks as well as scenes of remote places abroad.

Ong Kim Seng was awarded the Cultural Medallion for visual arts in 1990. He has also been honoured with the American Watercolour Society New York's prestigious Dolphin Fellowship, an honour conferred only to those who have succeeded in winning AWS awards.