Ten years after its groundbreaking release, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye has long established that it’s one of Singapore’s foremost works of literature, a cultural touchstone that may very well claim to be one of the quintessential Singaporean novels, where Sonny Liew’s award-winning work reimagines Singapore’s history through the life of a comic artist, blending fact, fiction, and the very medium of comics into a single, mesmerising narrative. To mark the 10th anniversary, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye: The Exhibition unfolds across three intimate, lovingly curated spaces in Bras Basah-Bugis District from 6–28 December 2025, inviting audiences to experience the artistry, craft, and legacy of this seminal work.

Opening the same weekend as Singapore Comic Con 2025, the exhibition stretches across Chaos Gallery at Waterloo Centre, alongside Basheer Graphic Books and InkInk Collectibles at Bras Basah Complex. Each space offers a distinct lens on the graphic novel: Chaos Gallery celebrates its creative energy, Basheer explores the making and craft, and InkInk delves into the afterlife and fandom of Charlie Chan.

The journey begins at Waterloo Centre’s Chaos Gallery, the risograph-powered experimental space run by Knuckles & Notch. A riot of colour, the gallery is the beating heart and pillar of the exhibition. Here, Liew’s world comes alive with original ink pages, oil paintings, and even a few unpublished works from the graphic novel, alongside reproductions and ephemera that illustrate the narrative complexity of Charlie Chan’s creations.

Visitors will encounter eight of Charlie’s key comic series mentioned in the novel, from the action-packed Ah Huat’s Giant Robot to the metafictional Days of August, alongside the sci-fi epic INVASION, the deceptively playful Bukit Chapalang, and the thrilling superhero series Roachman. Full-colour Roachman comic covers by American master printer Ben Diep add a tactile richness to the display, while oil paintings of Lee Kuan Yew, Charlie Chan, and Charlie’s mother underline the intersection of personal and national history.

The gallery’s alcove dedicated to Charlie Chan pulses with warmth and energy. “Chaos, in name and spirit, perfectly frames the artistry of Liew’s creation,” says co-curator Nurul Kaiyisah. “We hope this exhibition offers not merely a commemoration, but a gathering of spirits and stories who dare to rock the boat of monolithic, national narratives.”

Knuckles & Notch also offers exclusive risograph prints by local artist Ryan Benjamin Lee, along with other exhibition merchandise, giving visitors a tangible piece of the celebration. Walking through, it’s hard not to leave with something in hand: the space is full of heart, colour, and creative energy.

A short walk brings visitors to Basheer Graphic Books at Bras Basah Complex. The pace slows here, and the focus turns inward. Basheer is a quaint, book-packed space where every nook and cranny holds a story, and in a corner of this literary treasure trove sits the Charlie Chan section, thoughtfully curated to explore the making of the graphic novel.

Original pencil and ink drawings illustrate the evolution of a comic page, from tiny thumbnails to final art, while accompanying materials explain Liew’s blend of analogue and digital techniques. Curators have paired these with comics-adjacent books, providing historical context and highlighting influences from pioneers such as Winsor McCay and manga master Osamu Tezuka.

“The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye is a work with multiple entry points,” says co-curator Rachel Lim. “It presents an alternative history of Singapore, pays tribute to comic legends, and tells the tale of an artist navigating a society often inhospitable to the development of art. This space invites visitors to trace the craft, learn, and immerse themselves in the world behind the pages.”

Basheer and Chaos Gallery also stocks the 10th anniversary edition of the graphic novel alongside curated art books, offering visitors both an educational and collector-friendly experience.

Just a few steps from Basheer lies InkInk Collectibles, a space that feels like a geek’s haven. Here, the exhibition celebrates the legacy of Charlie Chan and its global reception. Variant covers by artists from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, and the U.S. reinterpret the graphic novel a decade on, from renowned Bob Layton’s take on Ah Huat’s Giant Robot to Huey Jing’s Escher-inspired introspection.

Fans can also view Sonny Liew’s Eisner Awards, concept art for video game and film adaptations in development, and creative responses by Yale-NUS students, highlighting the work’s ongoing influence. Memorabilia such as the Ah Huat fabric doll and ink-and-wash illustrations of Singapore’s historic five-foot-way libraries further enrich the space, making it a curated shrine to comics culture. Copies of Sonny Liew’s other work over the years, including his original Malinky Robot series and work with Magdalene Visaggio’s run on Marvel’s Eternity Girl, are on display.

Once inspired by the creative responses on display, visitors themselves can also purchase a zine with a customisable blank cover, echoing the comic industry practice of variant sketch covers, and participate in an online competition.

The experience of traversing Chaos, Basheer, and InkInk then forms a complete and total journey through the life of Charlie Chan; Chaos celebrates creativity, Basheer illuminates craft, and InkInk honours legacy and fandom. A stamp rally also links the three sites, rewarding visitors with exclusive prints from the graphic novel. Selected original artworks are also available for purchase across all venues.

For creator Sonny Liew, the exhibition is a fitting tribute to a decade of artistic achievement. “Many of the books I’ve worked on went out of print after a few years. For Charlie Chan to have a 10-year edition is unexpected, and I hope worth celebrating,” he says.

Indeed, The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye has stood the test of time. Its 2015 debut sparked public debate, became Singapore’s bestselling local fiction, and earned multiple awards including the Singapore Literature Prize, Book of the Year, and three Eisner Awards. Its 10th-anniversary exhibition reflects the same care, heart, and ingenuity that made the book a defining work of Singaporean literature and art.

The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye: The Exhibition runs from 6th to 28th December 2025 across Chaos Gallery (Waterloo Centre) 261 Waterloo St, #02-25, Singapore 180261; Basheer Graphic Books (Bras Basah Complex) 231 Bain St, #04-19, Singapore 180231, and InkInk Collectibles (Bras Basah Complex) 231 Bain St, #04-43, Singapore 180231.

Admission is free. For more updates, visit @artofcharliechan10 on Instagram and for artwork sales enquiries, email artofcharliechan10@gmail.com