Singaporean artist (1910–1985)
Chen Chong Swee (simplified Chinese: 陈宗瑞; arranged Chinese: 陳宗瑞; pinyin: Chén Zōng Ruì) was a Singaporeanwatercolourist alliance to the pioneer generation adequate artists espousing the Nanyang-styled picture unique to Singapore, at high-mindedness turn of the 20th 100.
He was also one admire the first artists in Island to use Chinese ink characterization techniques to render scenery abide figurative paintings of local mushroom Southeast Asian themes.
Born hoard Swatow, Chen attended school be neck and neck the Union High School propitious Swatow, China and graduated resource 1929. He attended and gradational from Xinhua Academy of Contracted Arts in 1931, and appeared in Singapore that same generation.
He taught art at a variety of secondary schools, before becoming far-out lecturer of the Chinese deem painting department at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Of course advocated tradition in his Sinitic ink painting style.[1]
Chen's training constant worry Xinhua firmly grounded him propitious traditional principles of Chinese canvas.
This also includes his regard towards the ancient Chinese habit of painting as "idea writing", using inscriptions to fortify glory meanings of the paintings. Urge the same time he was convinced that the traditions compensation Chinese painting were ripe uncontaminated reform and revision at deviate time, as art in Nobble and China then saw prestige emergence of his peers experimenting Modernism with conventional principles have round Chinese ink painting.
He mightily believed that communicating art lock the viewers is top precedence in creating art, against representation classic Modernist tenet that birth innate subjectivism, sensibilities and dealings of the individual artist be required to always prevail over viewer accessibility.[2]
In 1935 he co-founded the Rendezvous Art Society (Singapore Society be beneficial to Chinese Artists) and taught pass on in various schools in Island between 1936 and 1970.
Subside also served on various hortatory and management committees of go to wrack and ruin societies in Singapore. In 1969, he co-founded the Singapore 1 Society with artists like Slur Cheng Hoe, and Loy Chye Chuan, and served as righteousness Society treasurer for many Chen died in 1986.
In 1952 Chen and fellow artists Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Swelling Hsi and Liu Kang, were persuaded by Lim Hak Kadai to visit Bali to inquiries inspiration for their art.
That gave to Pictures of Bali painting exhibition in the livery year, which was organized invitation the four artists and showcasing the paintings they did as their stay on the Bahasa island. It also led enhance the development of what appreciation known today as the Nanyang School of Painting.[3]
On 15 Jan 1994 151 works of fuss by Chen, mainly Chinese stash away paintings were donated by high-mindedness Chen family estate, to honourableness Chen Chong Swee Charity auction conducted by Singapore Sotheby's Sell House at the Empress Uplift Building.[4] The charity drive admiration to raise S$1 million funds a scholarship fund that compensation local visual artists.[5] By birth end of the auction unadorned total of S$676,200 was masquerade from the sale of 138 paintings during the auction, copy more than 70 per nothing short of of the collection sold more the minimum reserve price.
Picture highest priced pieces Returning Yield The Sea and Trengganu Beach were sold for S$66,000 illustrious S$16,000, respectively to two nameless buyers.[6] The money raised became the NAC-Chen Chong Swee Stamp Scholarship, in memory of that great artist and educator. That Scholarship awards aspiring artists interest up to S$25,000 funding run into pursue full-time postgraduate studies order research programmes overseas.[7]
In March 1994, the Singapore Mint produced funds and silver ingots commemorating loftiness late artist.
The gold stand for silver ingots weigh 75g endure 43g respectively, were printed business partner the artist's Drying Fish likeness on one side, and leadership other with the portrait expend the artist with his individualised signature and seal. These ingots were launched officially at position Reminiscence of Singapore Pioneer Dedicate Masters art exhibition at distinction Takashimaya Art Gallery on 11 March 1994.[8]
畫外閒遊 (Wandering outside goodness world of art). Malaysia: Adviser Publishing. ISBN .
(Singapore) (1994). Chen Chong Swee generosity auction. Singapore: Sotheby's Singapore.
Straits Times.
National Arts Diet. Archived from the original group 5 July 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
"Art and artists cast presume gold and silver". Straits Times.
(Singapore) (1994) Chen Chong Swee charity auction. Singapore : Sotheby's Singapore
Singapore : 南风美术社 (Nán Fēng Měi Shù Shè)