Megan Loh Jenya (Y1, Law) was the child you could spot straight away in kindergarten — always doodling because she loved creating whatever she wanted. From self‑learning through how-to-draw videos to taking Art as an A‑Level subject, she has steadily built her foundations in visual art. As a recipient of the NUS Performing & Visual Arts (PVA) Scholarship, she has gone beyond honing her craft to actively contributing to the vibrancy of the campus arts scene. Read on to find out how the scholarship has supported Megan’s artistic practice, and how she balances her Law studies with her art-making journey.
OSA: It’s been a year since you received the NUS PVA scholarship. How has the scholarship helped you in the pursuit of the arts?
Megan: The scholarship has helped me reconnect with my artistic roots while I pursue a non‑arts major. Beyond the financial benefits, it has exposed me to countless opportunities I would not have had otherwise. I was invited to facilitate a workshop in the previous AY and I’m currently interning with NUS Museum’s Outreach team.
OSA: Take us back to how you began your journey in the arts.
Megan: As a child, I loved expressing myself on paper and was always enamoured with the idea of creating whatever I wanted. I drew incessantly because I loved it. It started with children’s crayons in restaurants and doodling on kindergarten worksheets. One inspiration was definitely how-to-draw videos, which sustained my interest in visual art throughout my schooling years.
OSA: Prior to NUS, what art platforms did you take part, and how did they shape your practice?
Megan: Throughout primary and secondary school, I was always in student art clubs. My parents encouraged my interests and signed my sister and me up for lessons at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. In Junior College (JC), I finally took Art as an examinable subject. It was incredibly liberating; art was no longer just after‑school activity, it was an academic pursuit. My teacher gave me a lot of flexibility, so I ended up dabbling in a wide variety of mediums and painting whatever I liked.
OSA: You are pursuing Law at NUS. How do you balance your commitment between studies and art?
Megan: Law is definitely demanding. My PVA Scholarship obligations do take up time and occasionally overlap with my academic deadlines. However, because I’ve never viewed art as something burdensome, the obligations turned out to be stress-relieving instead. I see them as valuable breaks from the rigour of my academics. That said, time management is still essential, and it has helped me develop the good habit of planning my commitments weeks in advance.
OSA: We understand that you are co-leading a mural project with fellow PVA Scholarship recipient, Mabel Tan, as part of the NUS Public Art Initiative. What can we look forward to?
Megan: Mabel and I were invited to collaborate with Pangrok Sulap, a Sabah-based art collective specialising in woodcut printing, on a workshop for NUS students to co-create an original artwork for the newly renovated Yusof Ishak House (YIH). The mural captures NUS student life through Pangrok’s woodcut techniques and aims to deepen the role of public art in enriching campus life. It is currently being refined and is scheduled to be up at YIH in late 2026.
OSA: You have just begun your internship with NUS Museum. What does this role entail?
Megan: I work in the NUS Museum Outreach team, where I support marketing and communications. Throughout this internship, I will be writing articles for the Museum’s editorial page, facilitating external events, and organising a guided tour. Since legal internships are usually more common in Year 2, I had some free time this summer and wanted to use it to explore an internship in a more artistic industry.
OSA: How would you encourage incoming year 1 NUS students interested in the arts but unsure how to begin, to be involved in the NUS arts scene?
Megan: It’s never too late to start! I know people who have made incredible progress in only a few years. Visual art, to me, has some slow learning plateaus, and it’s vital to be patient in the process. Remember to find joy in creating and to not value yourself by technical skill. Visit some museum exhibitions, sign up for the creative events advertised in your NUS mailbox, and make art for fun.
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