She won’t even know your name – Gan Sze Hooi

Gan Sze Hooi
83.5 x 83.5cm
Oil on Canvas
2025

Inspired by traditional colonial maps, this artwork features four divine figures at each corner, blowing in different directions, symbolizing forces shaping the city's evolution. At the center, a map of Jalan Yap Ah Shak encircles a young girl—unaware of its history, lost within the urban landscape. Clouds fill the scene, carrying fragmented definitions and descriptions, reflecting a fading past.

The title She Won’t Even Know Your Name stems from a simple question I asked my 18-year-old daughter: Do you know who Yap Ah Shak was? Her response "no idea" revealed a growing detachment from historical roots, where landmarks are now defined by food spots and social media check-ins"

As urban transformation accelerates through digital integration and iCloud technology, connectivity and efficiency redefine our relationship with the city, blurring the lines between memory and progress. The old community no longer relates to the name; traditional values are vanishing. In this rapid modernization, we are left with a question: Should we still preserve history, or should economic growth take precedence?