Jeffrey Wandly captures the essence of heritage landmarks and historical places in his intuitive and fluid paintings, earning him the nickname, "Building Whisperer." He has exhibited his works in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Korea and Vietnam, and his paintings can be found in the collections of government ministries, organisations, and private individuals. With an academic background in architecture and project management, Jeffrey’s deep appreciation for architectural detail and historical significance shines through his artworks.
Jeffrey holds a Bachelor of Architecture (Honours) from National University of Singapore (NUS) and a Master of Project Management from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Jeffrey is a project management professional and associate member of the Singapore Institute of Architects. He is the co-founder of Maya Gallery with his wife, Masturah, has mentored young artists, and been invited to give art talks at various events. He is a recipient of the Anugerah MENDAKI (MENDAKI Excellence Award), for being the top Malay student at tertiary level, and the Architecture Angullia Scholarship. He also won the Merit Award at the Singapore Tourism Board’s Saces Sculptor Competition in 1980; Third prize (Seniors) at the Takashimaya National Student Painting Competition in 1992; and Best of Show Award at SeniKita by Kamal Arts Gallery in Wisma Geylang Serai in 2020.
“I know and love everything about a building, from conception to construction, each nut and bolt; how every part is made, I have touched every single piece of material and smelt the dirt at construction sites. When I create my art work, it’s a spontaneity where I let gravity and a natural order flow.
In my Marantau series, Minangkabau Wisdom I – Dima bumi dipijak, disinan langik dijunjung (where the feet touch the ground, where the sky is held up), we are advised to follow traditions or laws, according to the place that we live in or stay. Minangkabau Wisdom II – Alam takambang dijadikan guru, (nature is a teacher), there are many life lessons that we can learn from nature, such as always being humble, never give up, and more. These lessons are learned by observing the natural surroundings and not destroying our environment so we can always learn from it.”
