Heng Siok Tian (born 1963) is a Singaporean poet and educator. She has published five volumes of poetry: ''Crossing the Chopsticks and Other Poems'' (1993), ''My City, My Canvas'' (1999), ''Contouring'' (2004), ''Is My Body a Myth'' (2011) and ''Mixing Tongues'' (2011).
Biography
Early life
Heng was brought up in a
Teochew-speaking family. In school, she found herself reconciling her traditional Chinese upbringing with her English-based education and her study of English literature.
She received a Master of Arts in English Literature from the
National University of Singapore in 1996, and a Master of Science in Information Studies from
Nanyang Technological University in 2002. She began writing during her time at NUS, receiving the first prize in poetry and an honourable mention in the short story category in the 1985-1986 NUS Poetry and Short Story Writing Competition.
She continued her literary education as a Fellow with the Iowa International Writing Program at the
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 col ...
, on a
National Arts Council Fellowship.
Career
As an educator, Heng has been in the teaching service for over 28 years. She received the National Day Honours in 2015 for her 25-year contribution to the education system in Singapore. She is a supporter of the Creative Arts Programme (CAP), a seminar established by the Gifted Education Branch at the
Ministry of Education, Singapore (MOE). Heng regularly facilitates CAP workshops, and has mentored several young writers in the CAP Mentorship attachment segment.
She is presently a media services specialist with the educational technology division of the MOE, and an English Literature teacher at
Hwa Chong Junior College
The Hwa Chong Junior College () was a junior college in Singapore offering pre-university education. The school merged with The Chinese High School on 1 January 2005 to form the integrated Hwa Chong Institution.
History
Founding
Hwa Chong Jun ...
.
Literary activities
Heng was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize with her works ''Yin-ly'' (1995) and ''Child Passing Chamber'' (1997), which were then combined to form her collection ''My City, My Canvas'' (1999). Her works have also been published in various outlets such as ''SilverKris'' and ''
The Straits Times
''The Straits Times'' is an English-language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore and currently owned by SPH Media Trust (previously Singapore Press Holdings). ''The Sunday Times'' is its Sunday edition. The newspaper was establish ...
''.
In 1991, she staged her play ''The Lift''. In 1994, it was read at the 3rd International Women's Playwrights' Conference in Adelaide, Australia.
Heng has been part of the NAC-Arts Enrichment Programme panel evaluating literary arts activities in Singapore, and was one of the judges of the poetry category for the 2015 NAC Golden Point Award.
She has been actively involved with literary festivals, having been featured in the Singapore Writers' Week in the 1980s and 1990s. She has continued to participate after it evolved into the
Singapore Writers Festival
The Singapore Writers Festival is a literary event organised by the National Arts Council. Inaugurated in 1986, the festival serves a dual function of promoting new and emerging Singaporean and Asian writing to an international audience, as well ...
in 2007, 2009 and 2011
to 2017. She has been a guest of literary events in China, Denmark, France, Malaysia, the Philippines, the US and Sweden.
Works
Poetry
Prose
Plays
* ''The Lift'' (1991)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Siok Tian, Heng
1963 births
Living people
Singaporean people of Chinese descent
Singaporean poets
National University of Singapore alumni