Cover Malaysia‑born artist Red Hong Yi with 'The Red Thread: Past, Present, Future' installation at Art SG 2025
Malaysia‑born artist Red Hong Yi with 'The Red Thread: Past, Present, Future' installation at Art SG 2025
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In her collaboration with Porsche, artist Red Hong Yi took inspiration from the 60 shades of red in its Paint to Sample catalogue for her commissioned art installation showcased at Art SG in January
The colour red holds great significance for Red Hong Yi. “The use of red, which ties back to my Chinese roots, has always been part of my work,” says the Malaysia‑born artist. “In Chinese culture, red signifies good luck, passion and success. I still remember my grandma telling me to wear red because it symbolises all things good, so I’ve always seen red as a positive colour.”
The colour is central to her latest work, The Red Thread: Past, Present, Future, a multilayered art installation commissioned by Porsche for Art SG in January, to celebrate its collaboration with the leading international art fair in Southeast Asia as official automotive partner. Spanning 9 metres, the artwork, which was displayed at the art fair flanked by mirrors on both sides, takes inspiration from the 60 shades of red in the Porsche Paint to Sample catalogue—and is a nod to Singapore’s 60th birthday this year.
Like Hong Yi, Porsche has a deep connection with colour, which is intertwined with its legacy of design, innovation and craftsmanship. For the installation, the artist focused on eight colours, including four of the brand’s most popular reds: the historic Peru Red from the 1970s, the timeless Guards Red, and the more modern Carmine Red and GTS Red. “I also selected four more distinctive colours: Racing Red, Ruby Red Metallic, Rubystar and Lava Orange, which were the colours that stood out [to me] most during my visit to the Porsche Centre,” Hong Yi says. “I worked with a total of 60 different shades of red, including those on the very light and dark ends of the red spectrum, like light pink and dark maroon.”
Read more: Porsche welcomes the arrival of the new 911 Carrera with a Valentine’s Day party unlike any other
Above Both Porsche and Hong Yi have a deep connection with colour
Both Porsche and Hong Yi have a deep connection with colour
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Using the metaphor of the “red thread”, symbolised by the flyline of the iconic Porsche 911 subtly embedded into the piece, Hong Yi invited viewers to connect with the work, illustrating how the choices we make in life, like art, can lead us to connections beyond our expectations. She also referenced a sunset over the ocean, with the sky, land and ocean becoming apparent when one viewed the work from afar.
The idea of life has been on Hong Yi’s mind since she became a mother in 2023. “When I reflect on life and time, especially after becoming a mother, I’m more mindful of the preciousness of time, and how much we can grow and evolve,” she says. “This installation speaks to the interplay of time, legacy and identity, themes I’ll continue to explore in future works.”
Yannick Ott, marketing director at Porsche Asia Pacific, points to this shared interest and belief in the notion of time as the starting point of the collaboration. “Though [the past, present and future are] seemingly at odds, each is indispensable to the other [two]: consistency can only thrive when contrasted against change and evolution, and genuine progress always honours tradition. Our icon, the 911, now in its eighth generation, stands as a testament to this philosophy,” he says.
Read more: Art SG 2025: What went down at the fair’s VIP vernissage
Above The flyline of the iconic Porsche 911 is embedded in 'The Red Thread: Past, Present, Future' installation
The flyline of the iconic Porsche 911 is embedded in 'The Red Thread: Past, Present, Future' installation
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This spirit of innovation is also the thread that connects the brand and the artist, who is known for using everyday materials and objects in unexpected ways—often drawing from her Malaysian Chinese heritage to create works that touch on social, environmental and cultural themes. The Red Thread: Past, Present, Future marked Hong Yi’s first time working with car paint, which was mixed with sand to recreate the colours. As with every new work, the artist, who runs Studio Red Hong Yi and leads a team of five artist‑designers, took the time to get to know the material, which challenged her to think beyond her usual approach and explore new techniques.
“The paint itself was fascinating; its reflective and vibrant qualities allowed me to bring out the depth and nuance of each shade of red. Sand represented the concept of time and its shifting nature, tying into the broader theme of legacy,” Hong Yi shares. To apply this car paint‑and‑sand mixture, she and her team built a device inspired by car engines. “I wanted the colourful red lines to run across the panels like speeding lights, but car paint is very runny and [the lines] would bleed into [one another] when wet, which is another reason why I added sand into the mixture. I needed each line of paint to be able to hold its linear shape on the panels.”
Above The artist Hong Yi at work in her studio
The artist Hong Yi at work in her studio
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With all of the research Hong Yi did into Porsche’s legacy of colour, surely she has a favourite for the Porsche 911. “Guards Red stands out for me for sure,” she says. “I’ve repeated that colour the most in the artwork because [it] resonates deeply with the brand’s legacy, and speaks to the history and timelessness of the brand. It’s an iconic shade that carries so much significance in the Porsche world.”
A leading force in innovation and automotive excellence, Porsche has long been a champion of artistic expression, often engaging with creative talents to showcase cutting‑edge design and craftsmanship. This latest collaboration followed its presentations in Singapore of the larger‑than‑life art installations Remember Your Dreams by French artist Cyril Lancelin in 2022, Dream Big by Scottish artist and designer Chris Labrooy in 2023, and My Two Cars Garage by French architect Marc Fornes in 2024, showcasing its ability to inspire and be inspired by the world of art.
In case you missed it: French Artist Cyril Lancelin Is Bridging the Physical and Virtual Worlds Through His 3D Works
Above The artist’s mood board
Above Red Hong Yi mixes sand with car paint for the commissioned art installation with Porsche
The artist’s mood board
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While art took centre stage at the Art SG art fair in January, a select group of Tatler guests also enjoyed the full Porsche experience. They arrived in style at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands, transported in a fleet of chauffeur-driven Porsche cars. Amelia Seah and Robert Irwan arrived in the Panamera, Noelle and Dickson Chu in the Taycan 4S CT, Sandra and Julian Chang in the Cayenne SUV, Layla Pi in the Taycan, and Lydea Tan in the Cayenne Coupé.
Layla Pi with the Porsche Taycan
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Guests also had the unique opportunity to meet with the artist and gain insight into her creative process before embarking on a private, guided tour of the fairgrounds. The Art SG team led them through the fair, highlighting its key exhibits and features.
Credits
Images: Porsche (Red Hong Yi)
Photography: Adrian Lee, Tey Yong How (Event)
Topics
As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
