Resting in the Afternoon

Liu Xuan Qi depicts a trishaw in this oil painting. A popular mode of transportation in the 1940s, the trishaw has seen become a thing of the past with strict government regulations, competition from motorised transport and urbanisation. Despite receiving little education, the hardworking trishaw operators reflected the multiracial characteristic of Singapore as most of them could converse fluently in more than one language and dialect. Today, Trishaws have become a part of tourist attraction in Singapore for visitors to experience traditional way of commuting in the city.

Paintings from this series has become one of Liu Xuan Qi’s significant collection of artworks as they touch on past memories and evoke a sense of nostalgia. Liu Xuan Qi won the platinum award at the UOB painting of the year competition in 2012.