Lin Hsin Hsin

Lin Hsin Hsin is a Singaporean digital media pioneer. With degrees in mathematics and computer science, Lin is an IT inventor, artist, poet and composer.¹

Artistic career and technological innovation
Using software and mathematics to create still designs on the computer, Lin began her exploration into digital arts in the 1980s.² She is said to be the first in the world to create a virtual museum when she launched the Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum in 1994, showcasing her oil, paper and digital art creations. Lin also created a new tool for viewing complex three-dimensional (3D) artworks,³ and the first 3D digital sculpture in Singapore.⁴

She pioneered the use of a computer with a 16.7-million-colour digital palette, imaging and graphics software to create digital artworks in the style of Chinese ink and Western oil painting.⁵ Utilising mathematical formulas and computer algorithms, Lin also generated digital glass and 3D. Her digital and animated sculptures were robosculpted and exhibited in Paris, France, in 1999 at the InterSculpt 99 exhibition.⁶

In 2007, Lin became the first in the world to create 3D artworks using only mathematical equations.⁷ She also employed mathematical equations to make jewellery and figurines, which were exhibited at an electronic sculpture event in France in 2009.⁸ Other technological inventions by Lin include: In-Camera Painting (ICP) – painting with a camera without using a computer (2005);⁹ creating stereoscopic 3D art without using extra 3D hardware (2011);¹⁰ and two new technologies on the Android operating system, Touch and Go (TANGO; 2013), and Sustainable Time-motion Enabled Power (STEP; 2015).¹¹

In May 2015, Lin was invited to stage a digital performance in Paris titled When Equations Dance – TANGO with Lin Hsin Hsin, in which she finger-choreographed 3D structures with music on an Android mobile device in real time.¹² A month later in June 2015, Lin presented her solo exhibition, Web Art: Beyond the Semantic Web, at Oxford University’s e-Research Centre during the ACM Web Science Conference. At the event, she presented a series of performances collectively known as “PING (Poetry IN Geometry)”, including the world premiere of the STEP technology.¹³

Lin’s early works centred on contemporary art before she became active in the digital art scene.¹⁴ Her interdisciplinary artistic creations – premised on the philosophy, “science is the governor of art” – are a combination of mathematics, technology, art and music. As at 2014, Lin has participated in over 220 exhibitions across 63 cities in 26 countries, 16 of which were solo exhibitions.¹⁵

Besides web art, Lin’s art practice has included various other mediums such as oil painting, papier collés (a type of collaging technique), collage and paper sculpture. She has also used Plexiglas (a type of acrylic glass) to create sculptures.¹⁶

Poetry
Besides being a visual artist, Lin is also a poet and has published 10 books of poetry.¹⁷ The paintings in her 12th solo exhibition, Back to Nature: 60 Artworks by Lin Hsin Hsin, held in 1992 at Singapore’s National Museum Art Gallery, were inspired by one of her poems.¹⁸

Digital music
In 2002, she was invited by Kunstradio Radiotopia acoustic network, a project commissioned by the Ars Electronica Festival and ORF Kunstradio from Vienna, Austria, to present her audio art in a live arts radio programme.¹⁹ As a composer, Lin has performed in Pisa, Italy (2005), and Bourges, France (2003, 2005).²⁰

Besides composing and performing, over the years Lin has also created several virtual musical instruments:

2003: Virtual instruments, including the didgeridoo, Brazilian berimbau and pseudo human voices.²¹
2006: Virtual sound board to create the sound of nature interactively on the web.²²
2006: I-Musika: Mobile Interface Musical Expression (MIME), a digital contactless interface that allows musical instruments to be played and be displayed and installed like artworks.²³
2012: World’s first mobile phone orchestra on Android.
2013: World’s first finger choreography for live 3D digital performances on Android.²⁴

Selected awards and accolades
1976: Special Award, Ministry of Culture, Singapore.
1979: Tan Tsze Chor Art Award, Singapore.
1985: Silver Medal, Société des Artistes Français, Paris.
1987: First Prize, IBM Singapore Art Award.²⁵
1996: Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum given the Virtuocity Award by VXR Corporation, USA.²⁶
1996: One of 200 cyber personalities featured in the 24 Hours in Cyberspace worldwide project.²⁷

Selected publications (poetry books)
1989: Take a Word for a Walk²⁸
1991: From Time to Time²⁹
1992: Love @ 1st Byte³⁰
1994: Sunny Side Up³¹
1997: In Bytes We Travel³²
2004: Between the Lines³³
2010: To the Point
2011: iWrite³⁴

Selected exhibitions
1980: Abstract Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore.
1984: Creativity – Abstract Art Exhibition, Citibank, Singapore³⁵
1985: Salon des Artistes Française, Grand Palais, Paris, France³⁶
1987: Music Observed: The Art of Lin Hsin Hsin, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore³⁷
1987: Bienal Internacional de Arte, Valparaíso, Chile
1989: Where Water Flows: 120 Paintings by Lin Hsin Hsin, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore³⁸
1989: Memoirs of Deutschland I, Marina Mandarin Hotel, Singapore³⁹
1990: Paper Works by Lin Hsin Hsin, DP Fong Galleries, San Jose, USA⁴⁰
1990: The Art of Reading: Paintings by Lin Hsin Hsin, British Council Exhibition Hall, Singapore⁴¹
1990: Lin Hsin Hsin: Werken Op Papier, Stichting Onderneming & Kunst, Amsterdam, Netherlands⁴²
1991: From Time to Time: 123 Paintings and Sculptures by Lin Hsin Hsin, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore⁴³
1992: Back to Nature: 60 Paintings and Sculptures by Lin Hsin Hsin, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore⁴⁴
1993: Memoirs of Deutschland II: 50 Paintings by Lin Hsin Hsin, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore⁴⁵
1993: ASEAN Indigenous Art Conference Exhibition, Cultural Centre of the Philippines⁴⁶
1994: IT’s Happening!: 85 Artworks by Lin Hsin Hsin, Empress Place Museum, Singapore⁴⁷
1995: Springtij Festival, Utrecht, Netherlands.⁴⁸
1997: .@rt – A Cyberart Show by Lin Hsin Hsin, Caldwell House, Chijmes, Singapore⁴⁹
2001: InterSculpt, Mairie du Vieme, Paris, France⁵⁰
2007: Sculpture Numerique et Biomorphisme, Intersculpt 2007, Hôtel du Département de Meurthe-et-Moselle, Nancy, Lorraine, France⁵¹
2009: Astronomie et Darwin, Gare de Metz (salons d'honneur), Metz, France
2011: InterSculpt, Galerie Luc Monod, Les Boulistes, Paris, France⁵²
2013: Montreux Art Festival, Switzerland⁵³
2015: When Equations Dance-Tango with Lin Hsin Hsin, Le Cube, Paris, France
2015: PING in STEP of Time, O’ Reilly Theatre, Keble College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom⁵⁴



References
1. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, June Yap and Yeo Wei Wei, Singapore’s Visual Artists (Singapore: National Arts Council, 2016), 298. (Call no. RSING 709.225957 SHA); “Profile – Lin Hsin Hsin,” The A List, accessed 23 December 2016. 
2. Janet Ho, “Mix of Art and Science Like Eating Laksa and Cheesecake,” Straits Times, 28 November 1997, 2. (From NewspaperSG)
3. Jeanette Pang, “New Tool To View 3D Art,” Business Times, 10 January 2000, 30. (From NewspaperSG)
4. Grace Chng, “Novel Approach to 3D Sculpting,” Straits Times, 6 October 1999, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
5. Ho, “Mix of Art and Science Like Eating Laksa and Cheesecake.”
6. Chng, “Novel Approach to 3D Sculpting”; Helmi Yusof, “No More Problem With Space,” Straits Times, 8 October 1999, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
7. Imelda Tan, “Lin Hsin Hsin, Singapore, Was First in the World in July 2007 To Create 3D Art Using Equations Only,” Artitute, accessed 23 December 2016.
8. Eve Yap, “Jewellery Made From an Equation,” Straits Times, 25 November 2009, 115. (From NewspaperSG)
9. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Tan, “Lin Hsin Hsin, Singapore, Was First in the World in July 2007 To Create 3D Art Using Equations Only.”
10. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; “Lin Hsin Hsin as an IT Inventor,” Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, accessed 23 December 2016. 
11. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Lin Hsin Hsin as an IT Inventor.”
12. “26 March – 30 June 2015 Over 70 Programmes Across 7 Cities,” Singapore en France – le Festival, accessed 23 December 2016. 
13. “ACM Web Science 2015,” Oxford e-Research Centre, accessed 23 December 2016; Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298.
14. The A List, “Lim Hsin Hsin.” 
15. The A List, “Lim Hsin Hsin.” 
16. T. K. Sabapathy, “A Choir of Colours,” Straits Times, 16 August 1987, 6; Tong, Min Ci, “Singapore Artist Has Works Displayed in Cyberspace,” Straits Times, 21 April 1995, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
17. The A List, “Lim Hsin Hsin.” 
18. “Back To Nature Series,” Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, accessed 23 December 2016. 
19. Serene Foo, “When Art Bytes,” Today, 11 October 2002, 31. (From NewspaperSG)
20. “Performances by Lin Hsin Hsin,” Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, accessed 23 December 2016. 
21. The A List, “Lim Hsin Hsin.” 
22. “Biodata – Composer,” Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, accessed 23 December 2016. 
23. Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Biodata – Composer.” 
24. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Lin Hsin Hsin as an IT Inventor.”
25. Richard Lim, ed., Singapore Artists Speak (Singapore: C. H. Yeo, 1990), 67. (Call no. RSING 709.5957 SIN)
26. Melanie Liew, “Singapore Artist Scores a First,” Straits Times, 17 July 1996, 3. (From NewspaperSG)
27. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; “Lim Hsin Hsin’s Awards, Scholarships & Honourable Mentions,” Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, accessed 23 December 2016. 
28. Lin Hsin Hsin, Take a Word for a Walk (Singapore: Select Books, 1989) (Call no. RSING S821 LIN); “Poetry Books,” Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, accessed 23 December 2016. 
29. Lin Hsin Hsin, From Time To Time (Singapore: Select Books, 1991) (Call no. RSING S821 LIN); Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Poetry Books.” 
30. Lin Hsin Hsin, Love @ 1st Byte (Singapore: World Scientific, 1992) (Call no. RSING S821 LIN); Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Poetry Books.” 
31. Lin Hsin Hsin, Sunny Side Up (Singapore: Select Books, 1994) (Call no. RSING S821 LIN); Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Poetry Books.” 
32. Lin Hsin Hsin, (1997). In Bytes We Travel (Singapore: World Scientific, 1997) (Call no. RSING S821 LIN); Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Poetry Books.” 
33. Lin Hsin Hsin, Between the Lines (Singapore: Ethos Books, 2004). (Call no. RSING S821 LIN); Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Poetry Books.” 
34. Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Poetry Books.” 
35. Lim, Singapore Artists Speak, 67; “Artist – Biodata,” Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, accessed 23 December 2016.
36. Monica Gwee, “Six Sparkle at Paris Art Exhibition,” Business Times, 18 November 1985, 11. (From NewspaperSG)
37. Lim, Singapore Artists Speak, 67; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata”; Sabapathy, “A Choir of Colours.”
38. Lim, Singapore Artists Speak, 67.
39. Lim, Singapore Artists Speak, 67; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata.”
40. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata.”
41. Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata”; Lee Siew Hua, “The Artist Who Has 5000 Books,” Straits Times, 8 April 1990, 6. (From NewspaperSG)
42. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata.”
43. Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata”; T. K. Sabapathy, “The Essence of Time,” Straits Times, 5 July 1991, 10. (From NewspaperSG)
44. Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata”; “Exhibitions,” Business Times, 8 August 1992, 32. (From NewspaperSG)
45. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata.”
46. Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata”; “Artist Fashions Works of Art From Pulp of Papaya Trees,” Straits Times, 10 June 1993, 18. (From NewspaperSG)
47. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata.”
48. Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata.”
49. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Artist – Biodata.”
50. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298.
51. “Lin Hsin Hsin’s Digital Art Exhibition around the World,” Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, accessed 23 December 2016. 
52. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Hsin Art Museum, “Lin Hsin Hsin’s Digital Art Exhibition around the World.”
53. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298; Lin Hsin Art Museum, “Lin Hsin Hsin’s Digital Art Exhibition around the World.”
54. Shabbir Hussein Mustafa, Yap and Yeo, Singapore’s Visual Artists, 298.



The information in this article is valid as at 2015 and correct as far as we can ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the library for further reading materials on the topic.