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Liu Kang (artist)
Encyclopedia
Liu Kang was a Singaporean
artist famous for his Bali
nese-themed figurative paintings. He was a founding member of the Singapore Art Society, and was credited with developing the Nanyang style.
He was born in Fujian
Province and he spent his early years in Malaysia, studied art in Shanghai
and Paris
, and taught art in Shanghai during the 1930s. Under the influence of Chinese artist and art teacher Liu Haisu
(1896–1994), Liu admired, and often appropriated the styles of French-based modernist painters such as Cézanne, van Gogh and Matisse. Liu Kang came to Singapore in 1942 and had been credited with numerous contributions to the local arts scene. In 1952, Liu Kang, Chen Chong Swee
, Chen Wen Hsi
and Cheong Soo Pieng
went on their historic field trip to Bali in search of a visual expression that was Southeast Asian. Liu drew much inspiration from this trip which inspired some of his latter works. In 1970, Liu was awarded the Public Service Star by the Singapore Government. He was honoured by the same agency in 1996 with the Meritorious Service Medal
. His works, spanning from 1935 to 1997, are a testament of his contributions to Singapore art.
In May 2003, the then 94-year-old artist gave the majority of his paintings and sketches, amounting to 1,000 over pieces, to the Singapore Art Museum
. He also unveiled a painting of three Balinese women, each carrying a basket of offerings, which was symbolic of his personal offering to the museum and to the country. The painting was aptly titled Offerings.
To commemorate the 100th year of Liu Kang's birth, the National Art Gallery, Singapore
, together with the Global Chinese Arts & Culture Society and Lianhe Zaobao held a forum titled "Liu Kang: Tropical Vanguard" on Saturday, 2 April 2011. The forum brought together a panel of established artists and scholars to discuss Liu Kang’s significant influence and contributions to Singapore’s art history, the local and international perspectives of this pioneering artist, as well as Liu Kang’s many facets as a leader and visionary of the Singapore art community.
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...
artist famous for his 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...
nese-themed figurative paintings. He was a founding member of the Singapore Art Society, and was credited with developing the Nanyang style.
He was born in Fujian
Fujian
' , formerly romanised as Fukien or Huguing or Foukien, is a province on the southeast coast of mainland China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, and Guangdong to the south. Taiwan lies to the east, across the Taiwan Strait...
Province and he spent his early years in Malaysia, studied art in Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and taught art in Shanghai during the 1930s. Under the influence of Chinese artist and art teacher Liu Haisu
Liu Haisu
Liu Haisu was a prominent contemporary Chinese painter, and noted art educator. He excelled in Chinese painting and oil painting.-Overview:...
(1896–1994), Liu admired, and often appropriated the styles of French-based modernist painters such as Cézanne, van Gogh and Matisse. Liu Kang came to Singapore in 1942 and had been credited with numerous contributions to the local arts scene. In 1952, Liu Kang, Chen Chong Swee
Chen Chong Swee
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...
, 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 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...
went on their historic field trip to Bali in search of a visual expression that was Southeast Asian. Liu drew much inspiration from this trip which inspired some of his latter works. In 1970, Liu was awarded the Public Service Star by the Singapore Government. He was honoured by the same agency in 1996 with the Meritorious Service Medal
Pingat Jasa Gemilang
The Pingat Jasa Gemilang , instituted in Singapore in 1962. The Medal may be awarded to any person who has performed service of conspicuous merit characterised by resource and devotion to duty, including long service marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct within Singapore...
. His works, spanning from 1935 to 1997, are a testament of his contributions to Singapore art.
In May 2003, the then 94-year-old artist gave the majority of his paintings and sketches, amounting to 1,000 over pieces, to the Singapore Art Museum
Singapore Art Museum
The Singapore Art Museum contains the national art collection of Singapore. It has a collection of 7,750 pieces of Singaporean and Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art, and has an expanding collection of new Asian and international contemporary art.- History :Officially opened in 1996, it...
. He also unveiled a painting of three Balinese women, each carrying a basket of offerings, which was symbolic of his personal offering to the museum and to the country. The painting was aptly titled Offerings.
To commemorate the 100th year of Liu Kang's birth, the National Art Gallery, Singapore
National Art Gallery of Singapore
withThe National Art Gallery, Singapore is a planned art gallery to be located in the Downtown Core of Singapore. It will incorporate two national monuments, the Old Supreme Court Building and City Hall, and is scheduled for its official launch in 2015...
, together with the Global Chinese Arts & Culture Society and Lianhe Zaobao held a forum titled "Liu Kang: Tropical Vanguard" on Saturday, 2 April 2011. The forum brought together a panel of established artists and scholars to discuss Liu Kang’s significant influence and contributions to Singapore’s art history, the local and international perspectives of this pioneering artist, as well as Liu Kang’s many facets as a leader and visionary of the Singapore art community.