Her commissioned work includes portraits of people and paintings of animals and nature. She is currently holding a horse and nature themed exhibition at her polo club in Singapore.
As the culmination of the Singapore Culture Series, Miwa plans to hold an exhibition and guided tours to see artisans at work.
“People should be able to smell the flowers and coffee and feel the energy and atmosphere, and you can’t express that in a painting,” she said. She wants to “stimulate their five senses through the tour.”
She searches for artisans with the help of friends such as heritage enthusiast Victor Yue.
“I help anyone who is interested in our heritage. She has the skills to help these artisans leave a legacy through their paintings,” Yue said. “We should be like Japan, where traditional craftsmen are treated like national treasures.”
Miwa is grateful for the help he has received from Singaporeans, including artisans. “They’re all so welcoming,” she said. “It’s such an honor to be able to see their work up close and have them tell their stories to me.”
The craftsmen wondered why she was interested in them. “They told me they were just ordinary people, but I told them they were special people who had been dedicated to their craft for a long time,” she said.
As an artist, Miwa has a special connection with artisans. “Sometimes people only become aware of a tradition when it’s gone,” she says. “I love Singapore, so I hope to contribute by sharing Singapore’s culture.”
Mr Alvin Tan, deputy chief policy and community officer at the National Heritage Board, told The Straits Times that in this digital age, he has been able to meet Singapore’s intangible cultural heritage practitioners and share their craft through the medium of art. Mr. Miwa’s efforts to document the items are worthy of praise, he said. .
“With her paintings, Ms. Romi Miwa joins the ranks of artists who capture and celebrate the many facets of Singapore’s heritage. We hope that her efforts will inspire others to inspire current and future generations. We hope this will inspire you to take part in protecting and promoting our heritage.”