Dumpling Festival

by artist Chang Kim Ngoh

With elements of both Chinese and Peranakan culture traditions, Dumpling Festival by Chang Kim Ngoh captures the quiet dedication behind the making of rice dumplings. The painting depicts four Nyonya women seated together, diligently wrapping dumplings by hand, their focused gestures reflecting both skill and patience honed over generations.

Rooted in the traditions of the Dumpling Festival, the scene highlights the labour-intensive process that underpins this cherished culinary practice. More than a simple act of food preparation, it is a communal ritual that embodies heritage, cooperation, and the passing down of cultural knowledge. In portraying this moment, Kim Ngoh also alludes to a tradition that is gradually fading in modern times, making the work a poignant tribute to the resilience and intimacy of shared cultural practices.

Size: 70 cm x 90 cm

Framed: No. If you would like this artwork framed, please enquire at social@artdis.org.sg

About Chang Kim Ngoh

Kim Ngoh graduated with a Diploma in Fine Art from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 1970, specialising in watercolour painting. She obtained her second Diploma in oil painting in 1980 from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax, Canada. Since her return to Singapore, Kim Ngoh has been working full-time as a professional artist. Her home is also her studio where she paints vivid scenes from the past. Her favourite subjects are the old Malay kampungs depicting the carefree and simple life common during Singapore’s colonial days. In 1998, Kim Ngoh bagged the Phillip Morris ASEAN Art Distinction Award and in 2000, she received the Very Special Arts Gold Award. Kim Ngoh has also worked on corporate commissions for The American Club and The Plaza Fitness and Spa.