Chinese ink painting and calligraphy

Chinese ink painting and calligraphy The Nanyang Calligraphy and Painting Society (also referred to as United Artists Malaysia), formed in 1929 and based in Kuala Lumpur, is thought to have been the first association in Malaya dedicated to advancing ink and calligraphy practice. The Salon Art Society, formed in 1935 and renamed the Society of Chinese Artists (SCA) in 1936, was also pivotal in promoting ink and brush painting. The SCA’s ink masters included Chen Chong Swee, Wu Tsai Yen, Huang Pao Fang and Shi Xiangtuo, who were also influential educators. Many taught ink painting at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).

Modern master painters Xu Beihong and Liu Haisu visited Singapore between 1925 and 1942 and held fundraising exhibitions for refugees of the Sino- Japanese War— giving inspiration to many local painters. The Japanese Occupation immobilized most artistic practice in Singapore. But after the war the practice of Chinese art grew exponentially. Countless competitions, demonstrations and broadcasts on Radio Singapore (such as those delivered by Shi Xiangtuo from 1949 to the early 1980s) as well as patron– collectors such as Tan Tsze Chor, Lee Kong Chian and Loke Wan Tho did much, through their patronage and support, to promote ink appreciation and practice.

NAFA’s founder, Lim Hak Tai, urged mindfulness of ‘tropical settings’, developing the notion of a Nanyang, or regional, style and sensibility. Ink painters such as Chen Chong Swee and Shi Xiangtuo incorporated motifs such as indigenous peoples, kampongs and tropical scenes into the scroll format. Others, such as Chen Wen Hsi, integrated Cubist expressions into Chinese ink works. The xieyi, or ‘expressive style’, exemplified in pioneer Fan Chang- Tien’s work, shaped successive painters such as Nai Swee Leng, Tan Oe Pang, Chen KeZhan and Chua Ek Kay.

Notable ink societies include the Molan Art Association (founded in 1967), the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore (founded in 1968), Siaw- Tao Chinese Seal- Carving, Calligraphy & Painting Society (founded in 1971), Hwa Hun Art Society (founded in 1973) and the San Yi Finger Painting Society (founded in 1978), which is believed to have been the first finger- painting society in the world.

The ink painter, calligrapher and seal- carver Wee Beng Chong was the first recipient of the Cultural Medallion in 1979. Other ink artists who received the Cultural Medallion include Pan Shou, Lee Hock Moh, Tan Swie Hian, Wang Sui Pick, Tan Kian Por, Chua Ek Kay, Tan Siah Kwee and Lim Tze Peng. Contemporary ink painters such as Tan Swie Hian, Tan Oe Pang, Chen KeZhan and Hong Sek Chern (who received the President’s Young Talent award in 2001) have participated in multi- disciplinary projects as well as overseas biennales such as those at Venice and Sao Paolo.

See also art and Nanyang Style.

Photo credit: Singapore Art Museum