Leo Teck Chong is the designer for the latest National Monuments series.
Art is my passion and stamp designing is a hobby which I have cherished and enjoyed for many years. Coupled with the design of every stamp issue is a wealth of new found knowledge, interesting perspective and refreshing styles required for the designs. Despite the hard work and long hours, the process of designing stamps is an infinite joy.
Bestowed with the chance to design the National Monument 2010 stamps for the third time (previous issues being in 2004 and 1991), I am both flattered and challenged. Focusing on the beauty of the monuments' architectural form, this is a rare opportunity for me to explore and reintroduce the pencil as a medium of expression, as it possesses the quality to bring forth the intricacy of structural forms and detailing using the strength of the strokes, layering of shades and tones to enhance the overall ambience and moods of the buildings. These techniques got me all excited while exploring the possibilities of what the pencil can do. It brought back memories of my school days when the book, "The Pencil" by Paul Calle, was first introduced to me and it showed me the wonders of the pencil.
I did not succeed in attaining what I perceived in my initial attempts though. The drawing process may be taxing but the die-hard passion got me so engrossed that I continued to draw tirelessly to capture the effect I yearned. The months of late nights paid off when the stamp designs were finally ready.
Designing the 3rd National Monuments stamp issue was as satisfying as the previous 2 issues. Looking at the 3 sets of National Monument stamps issued over the years left me reminiscing - the years past as they depicted my altering state of mind, the relentless growth stages and choice of expression at any one point in time.
I am grateful for the chance to pass on to the generations to come, a vision of the past, the present and the future in the form of stamps. The intrinsic value of the stamp encompasses the kaleidoscopic change of a nation. It is truly a piece of history on its own.
