Using art to connect with my grandmother despite her Dementia

Anna perched in her favourite spot to paint - Por Por’s lawn.

24-year-old Anna is sitting on the grass with an easel propped in front of her; she is completely absorbed, applying brushstrokes meticulously onto the canvas. The garden she’s in is completely still but charged with creative energy. Her 87-year-old grandmother – who Anna affectionately calls Por Por – ambles out from the living room after having woken up from her nap. She is surprised to find Anna painting a portrait of her in her favourite maroon chair.

Anna is a graduate of the renowned Ruskin School of Art at Oxford. As a multidisciplinary artist, the half-Chinese, half-Dutch Singaporean’s career is as dynamic as it is diverse. She credits her artistic genes to her Por Por, whose own artistic legacy includes being a piano teacher and Chinese opera singer in her early twenties.

Old archival photographs of Por Por, when she used to perform Chinese Opera at school clubs and charity events.

As Por Por’s dementia continues to advance and her memories of her golden performing years falter, art remains their enduring bridge. In her grandparents’ home, Anna not only found her first art gallery but also a sanctuary where she could truly be herself.

Where Anna’s love for art began

Anna admiring the same living room she used to watch Barbie in with Por Por.

Por Por’s house is a thoughtfully arranged space which has remained unchanged since the 1950s. Stepping through the door is like entering a preserved artistic time capsule. From her collection of antique vases to the art pieces that adorn the walls, Por Por’s keen curatorial eye can be seen. But her artistic sensibilities reveal themselves most clearly in her vintage furniture. And it is these eclectic home decor choices that have influenced Anna’s work the most.

“The furniture is the biggest inspiration for me, like the lacquerware wooden furniture and the boxes and tables lying around. You just don't see these forms anymore,” Anna gushes.

One painting stands out in particular: a wacky, fantastical piece that Anna created for Por Por five years ago.

Anna’s painting for Por Por five years ago.

“Sometimes, people look at the art that I do and their first reactions are ‘That's kind of strange’ or ‘That's a bit horrific to look at’. But Por Por has always been my biggest supporter of art. No matter how weird my work may seem, or if she doesn’t really understand, she’d say ‘That’s amazing, you should continue.’”

That unwavering belief made me feel like I could do anything because I would always have someone who supports me.”

It was this unexpected piece of art that Por Por liked that planted the seeds of confidence for Anna to continue painting. And even as Por Por’s memories falter, her fierce pride for her granddaughter and appreciation for her art endures.

“Whenever I go over, the first thing she would do is to show me the painting. She'd say, ‘Look at this painting’ without remembering that I did it for her. But it feels really nice,” Anna shares with a bittersweet smile.

Breaking boundaries in where art can belong

Most artists would work in a studio space. But Anna prefers to work at the house and often paints in the outdoor area, where plenty of sunlight fills the space.

“Because there's a lot of space, I feel a lot less stressed. This home has always offered me the freedom to work without constraint."

Anna's broader philosophy about space and environment has also been shaped by the hours spent working at her grandparents’ home. To her, the boldest artists are the ones who challenge the use of traditional exhibition spaces and utilise space in unconventional ways.

“I really like this small shop front unit called I_S_L_A_N_D_S at Excelsior Shopping Centre. It’s an experimental platform where artists take over the rented space and do whatever they want. It’s cool because you’ll just be walking through this old mall and suddenly you see someone’s art.”

Anna’s other haunts for creative inspiration include Art Outreach and starch. Here, artists are encouraged to push the boundaries of their practice and explore alternative and novel ways of showcasing their work.

Coming full circle

Anna chatting with Por Por about her performing arts days through old photos.

Anna’s perspectives on how art, exhibits, and space interact can be traced back to having deep roots formed in her grandparents’ home. It’s where her identity as an artist is firmly planted and a safe place that lets her explore her inner child. It’s her source of strength, comfort, and inspiration. At Por Por’s house, Anna can just be.

“This house has never changed. Because it hasn’t, it’s been a constant fixture in my life. It’s a world of its own with lots of memories attached to it.

“Working at Por Por’s house is a win-win – I come to visit, let Por Por kaypoh (poke her nose into) the work I’m doing, stay for dinner, sometimes sleep over, and then just repeat it again the next day.”

Together, the two have built a little routine that sustains them both – Por Por takes a keen interest and finds joy in Anna’s art, and Anna has found a safe refuge to explore her practice.

Both Anna and her grandmother have shown that inspiration for art can also be found in the quiet, intimate environments where we are most ourselves; in a place where memories, love, and creativity form an endless well that can always be drawn from.

Anna to Por Por: I hope the house never changes.

Por Por: Yeah, I don't think it will.

Feeling inspired to get your own arts and culture fix? The SG Culture Pass will offer $100 worth of credits to Singaporeans aged 18 and older to participate in local arts and heritage programmes. The pass will be available from 1 September 2025, and its credits will be valid for use till 31 December 2028. Visit the website to find out more.