The latest development marks an end to a dispute that started in January last year.

Tan stood his ground, even when the bailiff arrived to execute a court order to evict him from his studios at Telok Kurau. In the presence of police officers, the bailiff took about 20 minutes to talk to Tan, who had initially refused to leave.

The NAC rents out the Telok Kurau Studios at heavily subsidised rates.

It said it is common for artists not to have their tenancy renewed, but this is the first time it had to take full legal proceedings to repossess its studios.

The council said the Singapore Land Authority has rented Telok Kurau Studios at a market rate of S$28,000. However, it is only charging artists there between S$53 and S$114 per month. The market rate is between S$530 and S$1,140 a month.

Lim Chwee Seng, director of Resource Development at the National Arts Council, said: "I don't think this should be deterrence. What we have done so far is to enforce what we should have done, when artists refuse to move.

"It's a tough decision (but) it should not discourage anyone from coming back to us or to the Arts Housing Tenancy."

Since it was developed in 1997, the Telok Kurau Studios provide visual artists the space to create their work.

Every year, an average of 10 artists who need a space at the studios have to be put on the waiting list. This is why tenants are required to make full use of the space, which is what Tan has failed to do, said the NAC.

Tan did not submit an activity report and owed 8 months of miscellaneous fees. All these factors led NAC to decide in January last year not to renew Tan's tenancy. Tan was given ample opportunities to move out but he refused, thus causing NAC to seek legal assistance.

The NAC said Tan had appealed the decision several times. Tan defended his limited time spent at Telok Kurau Studios, saying that spending more hours there does not mean greater productivity. He added that he had produced three solo exhibitions in seven years, and had also been doing work in China.

Last week, Tan had threatened to set a bonfire to burn his paintings. The NAC applied for an injunction to stop him from doing so for safety reasons and because it was an illegal act. Tan decided not to proceed after discussions with NAC's lawyer.

Tan began removing some of his artworks from the studio on Wednesday evening. He finally agreed to vacate after NAC's lawyer persuaded him to do so.

Whatever pieces that remained in the studio will be moved to a storage container within Telok Kurau Studios. Tan has until April 21 to clear his things from the storage container. - CNA /ls
          

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