Chen Chong Swee
Encyclopedia
Chen Chong Swee is a Singaporean
watercolourist belonging to the pioneer generation of artists espousing the Nanyang-styled painting unique to Singapore, at the turn of the 20th century. He was also one of the first artists in Singapore to use Chinese ink painting
techniques to render scenery and figurative paintings of local and Southeast Asian themes.
Born in Swatow, Chen attended school at the Union High School in Swatow, China
and graduated in 1929. He attended and graduated from Xinhua Academy of Fine Arts in 1931, and arrived in Singapore that same year. He taught art at various secondary schools, before becoming a lecturer of the Chinese ink painting department at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
. He advocated tradition in his Chinese ink painting style. .
Chen's training in Xinhua firmly grounded him in traditional principles of Chinese painting. This also includes his inclination towards the ancient Chinese tradition of painting as "idea writing", using inscriptions to fortify the meanings of the paintings. At the same time he was convinced that the traditions of Chinese painting were ripe for reform and revision at that time, as art in Shanghai and China then saw the emergence of his peers experimenting Modernism
with conventional principles in Chinese ink painting. He strongly believed that communicating art to the viewers is top priority in creating art, against the classic Modernist tenet that the innate subjectivism, sensibilities and concerns of the individual artist should always prevail over viewer accessibility.
In 1935 he co-founded the Salon Art Society (Singapore Society of Chinese Artists) and taught art in various schools in Singapore between 1936 and 1970. He also served on various advisory and management committees of art societies in Singapore. In 1969, he co-founded the Singapore Watercolour Society with artists like Lim Cheng Hoe
, and Loy Chye Chuan, and served as the Society treasurer for many years.
Chen died in 1986.
In 1953 Chen and fellow artists Cheong Soo Pieng
, Chen Wen Hsi
and Liu Kang
, were persuaded by Lim Hak Tai
to visit Bali
to seek inspiration for their art. This gave to Pictures Of Bali painting exhibition in the same year, which was organized by the four artists and showcasing their paintings they did during their stay on the Indonesian island. It also led to the development of what is known today as the Nanyang School of Painting.
were donated by the Chen family estate, to the Chen Chong Swee Charity auction conducted by Singapore Sotheby's Auction House at the Empress Place Building
. The charity drive aimed to raise S$ 1 million for a scholarship fund that benefits local visual artists. By the end of the auction a total of S$ 676,200 was made from the sale of 138 paintings during the auction, with more than 70 per cent of the collection sold above the minimum reserve price. The highest priced pieces Returning From The Sea and Trengganu Beach were sold for S$ 66,000 and S$ 16,000, respectively to two anonymous buyers. The money raised became the NAC-Chen Chong Swee Art Scholarship, in memory of this great artist and educator. This Scholarship awards aspiring artists with up to S$25,000 funding to pursue full-time postgraduate studies or research programmes overseas.
In March 1994, the Singapore Mint produced gold and silver ingots commemorating the late artist. The gold and silver ingots weigh 75g and 43g respectively, were printed with the artist's Drying Fish painting on one side, and the other with the portrait of the artist with his personalised signature and seal. These ingots were launched officially at the Reminiscence of Singapore Pioneer Art Masters art exhibition at the Takashimaya Art Gallery on 11 March 1994.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
watercolourist belonging to the pioneer generation of artists espousing the Nanyang-styled painting unique to Singapore, at the turn of the 20th century. He was also one of the first artists in Singapore to use Chinese ink painting
Ink and wash painting
Ink and wash painting is an East Asian type of brush painting also known as ink wash painting. Only black ink — the same as used in East Asian calligraphy — is used, in various concentrations....
techniques to render scenery and figurative paintings of local and Southeast Asian themes.
Born in Swatow, Chen attended school at the Union High School in Swatow, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and graduated in 1929. He attended and graduated from Xinhua Academy of Fine Arts in 1931, and arrived in Singapore that same year. He taught art at various secondary schools, before becoming a lecturer of the Chinese ink painting department at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts is one of the oldest and most established tertiary arts institution in Singapore....
. He advocated tradition in his Chinese ink painting style. .
Chen's training in Xinhua firmly grounded him in traditional principles of Chinese painting. This also includes his inclination towards the ancient Chinese tradition of painting as "idea writing", using inscriptions to fortify the meanings of the paintings. At the same time he was convinced that the traditions of Chinese painting were ripe for reform and revision at that time, as art in Shanghai and China then saw the emergence of his peers experimenting Modernism
Modernism
Modernism, in its broadest definition, is modern thought, character, or practice. More specifically, the term describes the modernist movement, its set of cultural tendencies and array of associated cultural movements, originally arising from wide-scale and far-reaching changes to Western society...
with conventional principles in Chinese ink painting. He strongly believed that communicating art to the viewers is top priority in creating art, against the classic Modernist tenet that the innate subjectivism, sensibilities and concerns of the individual artist should always prevail over viewer accessibility.
In 1935 he co-founded the Salon Art Society (Singapore Society of Chinese Artists) and taught art in various schools in Singapore between 1936 and 1970. He also served on various advisory and management committees of art societies in Singapore. In 1969, he co-founded the Singapore Watercolour Society with artists like Lim Cheng Hoe
Lim Cheng Hoe
Lim Cheng Hoe was a watercolourist recognized as one of the key pioneer artists in Singapore, along with his peers like Cheong Soo Pieng and Chen Chong Swee. He was credited for the amalgamation of interest in watercolour art in the local art scene and in turn, the founding of the Singapore...
, and Loy Chye Chuan, and served as the Society treasurer for many years.
Chen died in 1986.
In 1953 Chen and fellow artists Cheong Soo Pieng
Cheong Soo Pieng
Cheong Soo Pieng was a Singaporean artist who was a pioneer of the Nanyang art style, and a driving force to the development of Modernism in visual art in the early 20th-century Singapore...
, Chen Wen Hsi
Chen Wen Hsi
Chen Wen Hsi , is one of Singapore's pioneer artists, known for his avant-garde Chinese paintings.He was born in Baigong in Guangdong province, and had his early education at Chen Li Primary School and St...
and Liu Kang
Liu Kang (artist)
Liu Kang was a Singaporean artist famous for his Balinese-themed figurative paintings. He was a founding member of the Singapore Art Society, and was credited with developing the Nanyang style....
, were persuaded by Lim Hak Tai
Lim Hak Tai
Lim Hak Tai was one of Singapore's pioneer artist at the turn of the 20th century, and was the person who inspired the Nanyang School of art form, to reflect the 'Nanyang' region, both in painting style and subject matter....
to visit Bali
Bali
Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east...
to seek inspiration for their art. This gave to Pictures Of Bali painting exhibition in the same year, which was organized by the four artists and showcasing their paintings they did during their stay on the Indonesian island. It also led to the development of what is known today as the Nanyang School of Painting.
Legacy
On 15 January 1994 151 works of art by Chen, mainly Chinese ink paintingsInk and wash painting
Ink and wash painting is an East Asian type of brush painting also known as ink wash painting. Only black ink — the same as used in East Asian calligraphy — is used, in various concentrations....
were donated by the Chen family estate, to the Chen Chong Swee Charity auction conducted by Singapore Sotheby's Auction House at the Empress Place Building
Empress Place Building
The Empress Place Building is a historic building in Singapore, located on the north bank of the Singapore River in the Downtown Core, within the Central Area in Singapore's central business district. The building is currently the second wing of the Asian Civilisations Museum...
. The charity drive aimed to raise S$ 1 million for a scholarship fund that benefits local visual artists. By the end of the auction a total of S$ 676,200 was made from the sale of 138 paintings during the auction, with more than 70 per cent of the collection sold above the minimum reserve price. The highest priced pieces Returning From The Sea and Trengganu Beach were sold for S$ 66,000 and S$ 16,000, respectively to two anonymous buyers. The money raised became the NAC-Chen Chong Swee Art Scholarship, in memory of this great artist and educator. This Scholarship awards aspiring artists with up to S$25,000 funding to pursue full-time postgraduate studies or research programmes overseas.
In March 1994, the Singapore Mint produced gold and silver ingots commemorating the late artist. The gold and silver ingots weigh 75g and 43g respectively, were printed with the artist's Drying Fish painting on one side, and the other with the portrait of the artist with his personalised signature and seal. These ingots were launched officially at the Reminiscence of Singapore Pioneer Art Masters art exhibition at the Takashimaya Art Gallery on 11 March 1994.
See also
- Chen Wen HsiChen Wen HsiChen Wen Hsi , is one of Singapore's pioneer artists, known for his avant-garde Chinese paintings.He was born in Baigong in Guangdong province, and had his early education at Chen Li Primary School and St...
- Cheong Soo PiengCheong Soo PiengCheong Soo Pieng was a Singaporean artist who was a pioneer of the Nanyang art style, and a driving force to the development of Modernism in visual art in the early 20th-century Singapore...
- Georgette ChenGeorgette ChenGeorgette Chen, born Chang Li Ying is a Singapore painter known for her Post-Impressionistic styled oil paintings at the turn of the 20th-century. She was a forerunner of the visual arts in Singapore, who contributed to the birth of the Nanyang art style in Singapore.Chen was born the fourth of 12...
- Lim Hak TaiLim Hak TaiLim Hak Tai was one of Singapore's pioneer artist at the turn of the 20th century, and was the person who inspired the Nanyang School of art form, to reflect the 'Nanyang' region, both in painting style and subject matter....
- Liu KangLiu Kang (artist)Liu Kang was a Singaporean artist famous for his Balinese-themed figurative paintings. He was a founding member of the Singapore Art Society, and was credited with developing the Nanyang style....