Ching Kai (b. 1980) is a Singapore-based creative, whose diverse body of work spans paper art, digital design, scenography and photography. Notable works includes a six-panel digital animation at Supper House for Singapore Art Week 2023, cover art for NUYOU Magazine's November 2023 issue, and a collaboration with KKI Sweets for the Macallan House launch at Raffles Hotel, Singapore.
His paper artistry first emerged through a fictitious character, @thepaperempress, on Instagram, depicting an ongoing narrative of a kingdom made entirely of paper. The whimsical, sometimes dark satire reflects real-world themes, gaining a dedicated following. Through this project, Ching Kai aims to bridge the gap between high art and everyday life by engaging with seemingly mundane affairs.
His solo exhibition at Jane Provisions explored the complexities of everyday objects rendered through paper, showcasing his signature deployment of the medium; while a three-meter-long paper installation of handwritten text, sketches, ink painting, and digital animation at Supper House delved deeply into the subconscious, juxtaposing elements of humanity, history, and contemporary culture and beliefs.
PRESS MENTIONS
“他用纸张制作潮玩偶“ by Ying Xuan (NUYOU Magazine, November 2023, Singapore)
“Behold, The Paper Empress!” by Samuel Woo & Nuria Ling (todayonline.com, May 2022, Singapore)
“Meet the Paper Empress and the Singaporean artist behind these visually striking paper craft creations” by Aun Koh (CNA Lifestyle, April 2022, Singapore)
“手工匠人 不让触感绝迹” by 吴庆康 (Lianhe Zaobao, December 2022, Singapore)
“The Creative Class” (Esquire Magazine, May 2021, Singapore)
“Bangkok Daydream: LomoAmigo Ching Kai Shoots with the Neptune Art Lens” by Marc Ocampo (Lomography.com, April 2019)
“我的IG世代” (Shopping Design Magazine, 2018, Taipei, Taiwan)
“@chingkaichingkai” (neocha.com, 2016, Shanghai, China)
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VISUAL & PAPER ART
Blooming Papers! * (2025, HDB in Serangoon Ave 2, Singapore)
《越亮》on nights like this, the loneliness gets melancholic (2024, Supper House, Singapore)
《折射》a light flashes, and a box drops from the sky (2024, Supper House, Singapore)
All That Glisters * (2023, Jane Provision Shop, Singapore)
KKI x Ching Kai《山中问答》* (2022, KKI Sweets, Singapore)
There are Flowers in the Morning Mist (2022, Supper House, Singapore)
The World Is Flat After All (2022, Supper House, Singapore)
Clouds/Smoke * (2016, Artistry Cafe, Singapore)
Mirare * (2015, Artspace @ 222, Singapore)
Singapore Art Exhibition 2007 (2007, Singapore Art Museum)
[*solo shows]
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ART DIRECTION
Notable design campaigns include:
The Singapore Theatre Festivals by Wild Rice
Dim Sum Dollies by Dream Academy
Hossan-ah 50! by Double Confirm Productions
Heirlooms Concert by The TENG Ensemble
The LKY Musical by Singapore Repertory Theatre
Turandot by Singapore Lyric Opera
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SCENIC DESIGN
The Other F Word (2021, Wild Rice, Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre)
Big Brown Girl (2021, How Drama, Esplanade Theatre Studio)
Grandmother Tongue (2016, 2017, 2021, Wild Rice, Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre)
Hossan-ah 50! (2019, Double Confirm Productions, Drama Centre Theatre)
Heirlooms Concert (2019, The Teng Company, Esplanade Concert Hall)
Dim Sum Dollies in the History of Singapore, Part 1 Rerun (2015, Dream Academy, Esplanade Theatre)
Dim Sum Dollies in the History of Singapore, Part 2 (2014, Dream Academy, Esplanade Theatre)