Description
About the Author

How does a certified accountant become an artist? How did the world of finance instruct his art to make him the unlikely artist that he is today? How has his art been able to bring so much joy to Singaporeans and foreigners alike? Art of Joy unravels the fascinating story of Yip Yew Chong, from the moment his ability to draw was spotted in kindergarten, his early humble years in Chinatown, the strong bond with his mother, grandmother and aunt, to his marriage, children and corporate success.

This book tells the story of planning for one's second act, and how that can be more successful and more fulfilling than the first. Few know that Yip only started painting murals in 2015, or that he only devoted himself to his craft full-time in 2018. Yip's success in painting came only after his success in the world of finance, but painting was his first love. He cradled this love through his corporate life, never letting go, and switched to paint full time only when he was ready. The art of joy is also the art of knowing what makes us and keeps us happy, and how that happiness is shown and shared.
Woon Tai Ho is a writer and media veteran. He wrote his first book, To Paint a Smile, in 2008. The genre-defying book weaved political, economic and social events into the art and philosophy of Singapore's renowned artist, Tan Swie Hian. Since then, he has been a prolific writer. Tai Ho wrote his first novel, Riot Green, in 2013. Soul of Ink: Lim Tze Peng at 100, written in 2021, was a finalist for Best Non-Fiction Title in the Singapore Book Awards in 2022. In the same year, Transition: The Story of PN Balji was also a finalist for the Popular Readers' Choice Awards. He is also part of the team working on George Yeo: Musings, a three-volume book launched over 2022 and 2023.

In media, he is best known for leading a team to start the Asia-wide news channel, Channel NewsAsia, in 1999. In the course of more than two decades, he launched news and entertainment channels across Asia, including MiTV and Channel K in Myanmar.

Art & Photography

Living Pictures: Photography in Southeast Asia

Art of Joy: The Journey of Yip Yew Chong