Biography Link: Biography with Photos Prabhakara Jimmmy Quek • 1955: o Born in Singapore. • 1962: o Began Primary Education at Maha Bodhi School. • 1967: o Completed Primary Education at Maha Bodhi School. • 1971-1972: o Learned arts from secondary school’s art teacher Tan Seng Yong. • 1972: o President of Art Society, Monitor, and Prefect at Dunman Government Chinese Middle School. o Completed Secondary Education at Dunman Government Chinese Middle School. • 1973: o Studied at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. o Artworks selected for the Open Section and Secondary Section, Black and White Still Life drawing. o Artwork selected for the 1973 National Day Art Exhibition, Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore. • 1974: o Studied at Ngee Ann Technical College, Business Studies Department. o Awarded Third Prize in National Art Competition, Open Section Western Painting. o Exhibited in "Art for Everyone" Exhibition, Kuo Chuan Community Centre, Singapore. • 1976: o Participated in Industrial and Business Orientation Program during college long vacation. o Treasurer for Photographic Society (1976/77). o Art Editor for Graduation Souvenir Magazine Publication Committee. o Display Officer for Photographic Exhibition, Ngee Ann Technical College. o Exhibited in "Art for Everyone" Exhibition, organized by the Ministry of Culture and People’s Association. • 1977: o Awarded Diploma in Business Studies by Ngee Ann Technical College in association with the Polytechnic of Central London. o Awarded Higher Stage Group Diploma in Marketing from the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UK. o Artwork selected for the National Day Art Exhibition, Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore. o Attended Advertising Design Course conducted by the Adult Education Board. • 1977-1978: o Administrative Officer in a piling company. • 1979: o Management Trainee in a management company. o • 1980-1983: o Designer/Design Manager in a design company, involved in 3-dimensional work for interiors, exhibitions, and outdoor projection programs. • 1982: o Attended CAM Diploma in the Advertising & Marketing Course at Singapore Institute of Management. • 1983: o Pinting selected for the National Day Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. o Awarded Certificate of Commendation in 1983 Painting of the Year Competition (Title of Work: Event: 9-4-83). • 1983-1984: o Director for a design service and outdoor projection company. • 1985-1986: o Studied at St. Patrick's School of Art (later renamed LaSalle College of the Arts). • 1986: o Began practicing art full-time, signing off his paintings as "Prabhakara," meaning "Source of light" in Sanskrit. o Awarded two Certificates of Commendation in the 5th Painting of the Year Competition (Title of Work: Compromise and Nature II). o Paintings exhibited in "Art in Leisure" at Goethe Institut Art Gallery, Singapore. • 1987: o Awarded Certificate of Commendation in the IBM Singapore Art Award Competition (Title of Work: Good Morning, City). o Selected for the Discovery Art Exhibition at Shell Theatrette, Shell Tower. His first painting was collected by the Singapore Art Museum. o Painting "Cosmic Landscape" (152 x 130 cm) acquired by the Singapore Art Museum for its permanent collection during the Discovery Art Exhibition. o Exhibited in the National Museum Centenary Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. o Exhibited in the First ASEAN Art Federation Exhibition at Taiwan Provincial Art Museum. o Held his first one-man art exhibition at Gallery 10-12 Hyatt Regency, organized by Della Butcher Gallery Fine Art, Singapore. o Went on a pilgrimage tour to India, Nepal, and Kashmir. o Began learning and practicing Vipassana Meditation under the guidance of Ven. Sujiva at Santisukharama, Kota Tinggi, Malaysia. • 1988: o Awarded First Prize IBM Art Award 1988 (Title of Work: Impression) and Merit Prize IBM Art Award 1988 (Title of Work: Pace). The awarded painting "Impression" was purchased by IBM and donated to the Singapore Art Museum for its permanent collection. o Held his second one-man Art Exhibition "Transformation" at Della Butcher Gallery Fine Art, Singapore. o Exhibited in "Masterpieces From Private Collections Exhibition" at National Museum Art Gallery. o Exhibited in "Singapore Contemporary Artist Exhibition" at Hong Kong Arts Centre, Hong Kong. o Exhibited in "Singapore Artist Exhibition" at Sogo Art Galleries in Yokohama, Kobe, and Sapporo, Japan. o Became a member of the Modern Art Society, Singapore. o Exhibited in the First Exhibition of Federation of Asian Art Association at Taiwan Museum of Art, Taiwan. • 1989: o Exhibited in "Invitational Asia Artists Art Exhibition" in conjunction with the 100th Anniversary of Taichung City, Taiwan. o Artwork selected for the exhibition and awarded a Certificate of Commendation in the IBM Art Award 1989 (Title of Work: Follow, Progress & Look Back). o Artwork selected for the Exhibition in the IBM Art Award 1989 (Title of Work: Light of Harmony & Progress). o Exhibited in the Second Exhibition of Federation of Asian Art Association in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. o Exhibited in First Asian Traveling Exhibition of Painting, photography, and Children's Art at Art Centers and Museum Galleries in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, and the Philippines. • 1990: o Held One-man Exhibition "The Spirit of Nature" at Oriental Singapore. o Exhibited in First Asian International Art Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. o Exhibited in "Urban Artists; 25 Years of Singapore Art" at National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. o Exhibited in "Singapore Artists Speak Exhibition" at National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. Works featured in Book: "Singapore Artists Speak." o Exhibited in "Modern Art Travels East-West; Corporation Collection from Singapore and the Netherlands" at World Trade Centre, Rotterdam. o Painting featured in the Singapore Business Diary. • 1991: o Exhibited in "Many in One: 25 Years of Art from Singapore" at National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. o Exhibited in "Many in One: 25 Years of Art from Singapore; Travelling Exhibition in the USA" at Meridian House International, Washington DC, and various locations in the USA. o Exhibited in the Grand Discovery Art Exhibition at Empress Place Museum, Singapore. o Exhibited in 2nd Bru-Sin Art Exhibition at National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. o Exhibited in "Change: 20 Singapore Artists, A decade of their work" at National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. Works featured in the Book: "Change: 20 Singapore Artists." o Awarded Certificate of appreciation for commendable volunteer services and dedication in supporting the charities of the Community Chest of Singapore for Christmas Cards Project 1991. o Solo Art Exhibition at Jain Marunouchi Gallery, New York, USA. • 1992: o Held One-man Art Exhibition "Journey into Myself" at The Substation Gallery, Singapore. Published "Prabhakara - Journey into Myself." o Exhibited in 7th Asean International Art Exhibition at Gedung Merdeka, Bandung, Indonesia. o Became a member of Singapore Art Society. o Married Siew Hooi in Singapore. o Exhibited in "Contemporary Singapore Art Exhibition" in Hong Kong. o Exhibited in "Multi-images, Singapore Art Society Art Exhibition" at Empress Place Museum, Singapore. o Exhibited in the Group Exhibition to celebrate the 70th birthday of Della Butcher at Riverwalk Galleries Exhibition Hall. o Visited by Sargent Shriver, Chairman and CEO of the Board of Special Olympics International Headquarters, Washington, D.C. USA, at Jimmy's home in Tampines, Singapore. • 1993: o Held One-man Art Exhibition "Within" at Substation Gallery Singapore and Oriental Singapore. o Exhibited in "New Space, Singapore/Vietnam Art Exhibition" at Art Gallery of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. o Exhibited in the 6th Asean Art Biennial Bangladesh 1993 at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh. o Exhibited in "Art in Asia; Singapore Art Fair 1993" at World Trade Centre, Singapore. o Exhibited in the Eighth Asean International Art Exhibition at Fukuoka City Art Museum, Fukuoka City, and Tagawa City Art Museum, Tagawa City, Japan. o Exhibited in "Singapore; Place, Poems, Paintings" at National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. Works featured in the Book: "Singapore; Place, Poems, Paintings." o Conducted art courses for adults at Federation of Art Societies, Singapore. • 1994: o Participated in a community project for disabled children in the Teach Me program by Mount Elizabeth Hospital Ltd. o Exhibited in "Window on Singapore Art" traveling exhibition to China and Hong Kong. o Exhibited in "Rhythm & Vitality" at Empress Place Museum, Singapore. o Exhibited in the 9th Asian International Art Exhibition at National Museum of History, Republic of China. o Exhibited in the Third Asean Travelling Exhibition of Painting, Photography, and Children's Art. o Exhibited in "5 Directions: Recent Artworks by Five young Singapore Artist" at Takashimaya Gallery, Singapore. o Member of the judging panel for the Della Butcher Award for Excellence in the Arts. • 1995: o Member of the judging panel for the Philip Morris Group of Companies Singapore/Asean Art Awards, Singapore. o Exhibited in The 10th Asian International Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore. o Exhibited in "Contemporary 95 Art Exhibition" by Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya. o Exhibited in the Modern Art Society 30th Anniversary Art Exhibition at Riverwalk Galleria Exhibition Hall, Singapore. o Painting featured in a commemorative hardcover book: "Art in the City" by Raffles City. o Treasurer, Modern Art Society, Singapore. o Working Committee, 10th Asian International Art Exhibition, Singapore. • 1996: o Awarded certificate in recognition for participation in the Grand Shell Discovery Art Exhibition. o Exhibited in "Manahara" at Orchard Point Exhibition Hall, Singapore, a fundraising project for the Buddhist Library. o Exhibited in "Modernity and Beyond" at Inaugural Exhibition, Singapore Art Museum, Singapore. o Exhibited in the Modern Art Society 32nd Anniversary Exhibition at NAFA Gallery, Singapore. o Treasurer, Modern Art Society, Singapore. o Working Committee, 11th Asian International Art Exhibition of Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Philippines. o Working Committee, Modern Art Society's 32 Anniversary Art Exhibition. o Moved studio to 10 Kampong Eunos, Federation of Art Societies, Singapore. • 1997: o Moved studio to Telok Kurau Studios. o Member of the judging panel for the Ramakrishna Mission Centenary Celebrations (1897-1997) Art Competition, Singapore. o Exhibited in "Taegu - Asia Arts Exhibition" at Taegu Cultural Arts Gallery, Korea. o Exhibited in "Very Special Art Exhibition" at Raffles City, Singapore. o Became a life member of Singapore Art Society. o Secretary, Modern Art Society, Singapore. o Exhibited in the Modern Art Society Thirty-Three Anniversary Art Exhibition at UOB Plaza 1 Sky Lobby, Singapore. o Exhibited in the 12th Asian International Art Exhibition at Centre de Actividades Turisticas, Macau. o Exhibited in "Singapore Art Society Exhibition '97" at Orchard Point Exhibition Hall, Singapore. o Exhibited in "Singapore Art 97" at Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore. • 1998: o Treasurer, Management Committee 1998/1999, Vipassana Meditation Centre (Singapore). o Held "Recent Paintings" one-man art exhibition at Alliance Francaise de Singapour. Published Prabhakara- Recent Paintings. o Exhibited in Second Nature: Cityscapes of Singapore, an exhibition of Singapore Contemporary Art, in Hong Kong. o Exhibited in 4 Perspectives - Art Exhibition at The National Museum of Thailand, Thailand. • 1999: o External Assessor, Assessment Panel for the Diploma in Visual Arts Assessments for 2-D Studies in the School of Fine Art, LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore. o Vice President, Management Committee 1999/2000, Vipassana Meditation Centre (Singapore). o Exhibited in the Singapore Art Society 50th Anniversary Art Exhibition at Paragon Exhibition Hall, Singapore. o Exhibited in City/Community: Singapore Art Today at Nokia Singapore Art 1999. o Exhibited in President's Charity Art Exhibition 99 at Far East Square Pavilion, Singapore. o Participated in Diobok-Obok: Continuities and Contingencies - Southeast Asian Art Today at Singapore Art Museum (19 Oct - 21 Nov 1999). o Exhibited in the 14th Asian International Art Exhibition at Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan. o Held Small Paintings Art Exhibition at 407 TKS Studio. o Moved studio to Tampines St 22. o Invited to participate in Maybank-Very Special Arts Pair-with-An-Artist program to be a mentor for 2 young artists. • 2000: o Participated in International Carnival at Marina City Park. o Member of the Course Accreditation Committee for the Department of 2D and 3D Studies, Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore. o Exhibited in St. Andrew's Mission Hospital Charity Art Exhibition at Singapore Tourism Board, Singapore. o Exhibited in SANA Charity Art Exhibition 2000 at the Pavilion Far East Square, Singapore. o Exhibited in Ngee Ann Kongsi Art Exhibition 2000, Singapore. o Held a one-man Art Exhibition, Paintings by Prabhakara Jimmy Quek at Galerie Belvedere, MITA Building, Singapore. • 2001: o Exhibited in Time and Space 37th Modern Art Society Anniversary Art Exhibition at Mita Building, Singapore. o Exhibited in Nokia Singapore Art 2001: Histories, Identities, Technologies, Spaces - Singapore Art Today at Singapore Art Museum. (8 Dec 2001 - 3 Feb 2002). o Exhibited in the 16th Asian International Art Exhibition at Guangdong Museum of Art, Guangzhou, China. o Exhibited in Ngee Ann Kongsi Art Exhibition 2001, Singapore. o Exhibited in Diversity - Singapore Art Society Exhibition, MITA Building, Singapore. • 2002: o Ehibited in Singapore - Japan Arts Exchange Exhibition in Osaka, Japan. o Exhibited in the 17th International Asian Art Exhibition at Daejeon Municipal Museum of Art, Korea. o Held a one-man Art Exhibition by Prabhakara Jimmy Quek at Galerie Belvedere, Capital Tower, Singapore. o Exhibited in Interiors - Vistas of Internal Spaces, a Group Painting Exhibition at Utterly Art, Singapore. o Exhibited in Ngee Ann Kongsi Art Exhibition 2002, Singapore. o Exhibited in Singapore Art Society Annual Art Exhibition at MITA Building, Singapore. o Donated two paintings to MINDS - Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore. • 2003: o The painting "Bougainvillea and Door" was presented to His Excellency Gerhard Schroder Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore. o Co-organized Vipassana Meditation Centre (Singapore) Metta Meditation Retreat conducted by Sayadaw U Pannathami. o Conducted art and painting workshops for teachers at Metta School. o Exhibited in the Sixth Annual National Teochew Art and Chinese Calligraphy cum Overseas Teochew Artists Exhibition at Teochew Building, Singapore. o Launched the Exclusive Personal Art Cards Project. • 2004: o Invited to exhibit in Art Exhibition by 4 artists in Tampines, Ministerial Community Visit to Tampines Changkat - Station 2, Tampines Street 11, Singapore. o Registered Pabha Creation with ACRA. o Began working on Contemporary Artist Pendants with Siew Hooi and creating 3D artwork of Huat Kueh. o Published selective collections of painting images on the website www.prabhakara.com. o Exhibited in the Seventh Annual National Teochew Art Exhibition at Teochew Building, Singapore. o Invited to exhibit in Olympic Arts Festival, Olympic Truce: Pieces of Peace, Washington DC at The Delegation of the European Commission, Washington DC, USA. • 2005: o Featured painting in the art book - I'm Creative, Art and Crafts for Primary School 5, (Page 2: Art For the Senses) published by SNP Panpac. o Featured painting in the art exhibition - A Wealth of Visions, Gallery, The Arts House at the Old Parliament, Singapore. o Featured painting in The Singapore Art Show - A Different Light - Works from Selected Collections, organized by the National Arts Council, National Library Building, 5th Level, Singapore. o Exhibited in the Eighth Annual National Teochew Artist & Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition at Ngee Ann Cultural Centre, Teochew Building, Singapore. • 2006: o Created a series of small paintings of 3.5 x 2.5 inches in size. Published New Paintings Gallery on the internet. o Created a series of 3D artworks, launched by Pabha Creation. • 2007: o Started artist blog at http://my.opera.com/pabha (Moved blog to http://pabha.wordpress.com in 2014.) o Exhibited in the Tenth Annual Teochew Art Art Exhibition at Ngee Ann Cultural Centre, Teochew Building, Singapore. o Participated in the Art Market organized by National Park Board, Singapore, at Fort Cunning Centre, Fort Cunning Park, under PABHA. o Participated in Metta Charity Walk cum Family Carnival under PABHA. • 2008: o Participated in Singapore Arts Street 2008, showcasing Artist Pendants at Clarke Quay and North East under PABHA. o Exhibited in Nanyang 70 Years After - A Reunion of Artists in the Academy at Nanyang Academy of Fine Art Galleries, NAFA, Singapore. o Invited to exhibit in the Telok Kurau Studio Annual Exhibition at Telok Kurau Studio Art Gallery, Singapore. o Participated in Metta Charity Walk cum Family Carnival under PABHA. • 2009: o Joined Facebook at http://www.facebook/artpabha. o Participated in Singapore Arts Street 2009 @ South East, showcasing Artist Pendants under PABHA. o Began art sessions programs at Tampines home Pabha Studio. Participants come from different nationalities, ages, and professions. o Published website at pabha.com/artclass.htm. o Participated and received a certificate of appreciation for support and contribution to Metta Charity Walk cum Family Carnival. • 2010: o Exhibited in the Singapore Art Society 60th Year Anniversary Exhibition cum Launching of Artists Directory. o Paintings featured in Singapore Art Society Artists Directory 1949-2009. o Published artworks at www.pabha.com. o Participated and received a certificate of appreciation for support and contribution to Metta Charity Walk cum Family Carnival. o Ongoing Painting and drawing sessions programs at Pabha Studio. • 2011: o Participated and received a certificate of appreciation for support and contribution to Metta Charity Walk cum Family Carnival. • 2011-2012: o Ongoing Painting and drawing sessions programs at Pabha Studio. • 2013: o Published Featured Artists from Pabha Studio website and My Pabha Shop website. o Moved artist's blog from my.opera.com to pabha.wordpress.com. • 2013-2014: o Ongoing painting and drawing sessions at Pabha Studio. o Published Participants Works Gallery. • 2015: o Paintings exhibited in art exhibition "The UOB Art Collection - Drawing from the past, framing our future" at Nanyang Academy of Fine Art Galleries, NAFA, Singapore. o Online art exhibition "30 Paintings from 30 Years." o Ongoing painting and drawing sessions at Pabha Studio. o Published Participants Works Gallery. o Successfully completed "Create Something Every Day - 100 Days Art Project." o Renamed "My Pabha Shop" to "Online Shop." o Published paintings 2015 online. o "Early Works - An Online Exhibition." o Exhibited in the Singapore Art Society 65th Year Anniversary Exhibition cum Launching of Artists Directory. The Painting is featured in Singapore Art Society Artists Directory 1949-2014. • 2016: o Ongoing painting and drawing sessions at Pabha Studio. Participants come from different nationalities, ages, and professions. o Started art project "100 Day Art Practice Challenge" and published works online. o Published Participants Works Gallery 21 and 22. o Published paintings 2016 online. • 2017: o Published Biography on the website. o Completed art project "100 Day Art Practice Challenge" and successfully published works online. o Published paintings 2017 website. o Ongoing painting and drawing sessions at Pabha Studio. Participants come from different nationalities, ages, and professions. o Published Participants Works Gallery 23. o Joined Patreon and started posting at www.patreon.com/artpabha. • 2018: o Initiated and participated in "5 Works in 1 Month - An Online Art Exhibition by 6 Artists." o Ongoing painting and drawing sessions are being held at the home Pabha Studio. o Initiated and participated in "5 Works in 1 Month: 7 Contemporary Artists." An online art exhibition. o Published "A Retrospective Exhibition - 45 years of art-making" online art exhibition. o Accepted appointment as a trainer with the People's Association on 25 July 2018. o Published paintings 2018 website. • 2019: o Published 2019 Programmes online. o Published Paintings with Words online. Featuring 100 paintings in which calligraphic lines and words form a significant element of the design in the composition. o A Retrospective Exhibition - 46 Years of Art Making. Online art exhibition. o Published Paintings 2019 Website. First time showing digital art online. o Ongoing Art Sessions 10th Anniversary. Published “ONGOING ART SESSIONS10TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATION” on the website. o Published Participants Gallery 24. • 2020: o Art sessions were held at the artist’s studio and were also available online. o Held a Virtual Exhibition during COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Period. o Held a ‘Post Circuit Breaker Period Art Exhibition’ titled ‘New Relationship’. This was an online virtual exhibition that ran from June 26 to August 6. o Held a National Day Celebration Art Exhibition titled ‘Rejoice’. This was an online virtual exhibition that ran from August 9 to August 22. o Held a Small Painting Online Art Exhibition from November 20 to December 19, 2020. • 2021: o Continue to host ongoing art sessions to share the drawing and painting experience with participants in the home studio. o Exhibited at the Singapore Art Society’s annual art exhibition, ‘Art is Essential’ - a digital online presentation. o The Artwork Collection website has been published at www.pabha.com, replacing all previously published painting websites. • 2022-2023: o Continue to host ongoing art sessions to share the drawing and painting experience with participants in the home studio. o Update the Artwork Collection website and www.pabha.com • 2024: o Expand the scope to encompass the quintessence of songwriting, painting, and video artistry, integrating these forms into the tapestry of creative expression.