Chen Wen Hsi, Herons, 1990, Chinese Ink and colors.
Born in 1908 and died in 1991.
What you need to know about the artist and this work:
- Chinese immigrant to Singapore: decided to move here after visiting Malaysia for a show and being inspired by the tropical scenery.
- Was initially influenced by the Post-Impressionist style while studying in University, but later explored the use of Chinese Ink painting.
- Managed to merge concepts from traditional Chinese Ink painting and western painting to form his own unique art style.
- Was one of the big 4 from Singapore who went on the historical Bali trip in 1952.
- Taught at NAFA from 1951-9, and thus was instrumental to developing the Nanyang style. See earlier posts for clarification on WHAT the Nanyang style is.
- The use of Cubism is evident when he uses both oil and ink. This influence started AFTER the Bali trip, and too place in the 60s -- the 80s.
- An art movement that debuted in Paris in 1911 (but started in 1901) by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
- Cubism makes use of shifting viewpoints, and inspiration can be seen from Cezanné's use of multiple viewpoints in a single artwork.
- The results of cubism were often flat and highly patterned surfaces, where it can be difficult to tell what each object is.
- The type of Cubism that Chen Wen Hsi uses is referred to as Analytical cubism, as he has drawn from life, as opposed to Synthetic cubism, where collage techniques are used.
- Loved nature: grew up in a small rural town in China among animals, and thus could study them from a close proximity.
- When he moved to Singapore, he bought a large variety of animals from chickens to gibbons, many of which appear in his artworks. He literally LIVED among the animals in his paintings.
- Does not see his artwork as a linear progression. This is shown by the fact that he doesn't date his artworks.
Picasso: Weeping Woman, Girl Before a Mirror
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