Between Line & Form: Hand-Drawn Drawings by Ar. Rene Tan

You are cordially invited to Between Line & Form, an exhibition of hand-drawn architectural sketches by Ar. Rene Tan, presented in conjunction with the RT+Q Drawing Prize at the National University of Singapore.

Spanning more than 40 years, the exhibition features lead-on-paper sketches, mechanical pencil on vellum, ink and Pantone on Mylar, pen parti diagrams, ballpoint design esquisses, and sketchbooks loaned from the National Library Singapore Archives.

Describing himself as “an accidental architect”, Ar. Rene Tan reflects:

“At that point, I remembered I could draw a bit.”

These drawings trace a personal journey through observation, discovery, improvisation and speculation. From “Covid Drawings” exploring interior space, to “Otto Wagner Drawings” on proportion and detail, “Pantone Drawings” on light and shadow, “Travel Sketches” on place and memory, and “Sketchbook Etudes” tracking design ideas, each work embodies what Michael Graves called “tangible speculations”.

Between Line & Form invites Architecture and Landscape students—and all visitors—to reflect on the enduring value of hand sketching in an increasingly digital design culture, and to consider the liberating journey between each line and the next.

We look forward to welcoming you to the opening reception on 28 September at 6 PM.

Exhibition opening reception
Monday, 28 September 2026, 6 PM
SDE 3, Level 1 Architecture Gallery, NUS

Exhibition period
28 September – 23 October 2026
SDE 3, Level 1 Architecture Gallery, NUS