Chen Wen Hsi
| Chen Wen Hsi | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Native name | 陈文希 |
| Born | 9 September 1906 Guangdong, China |
| Died | 17 December 1991 (aged 85) Singapore |
| Nationality | Singaporean |
| Education | Shanghai College of Art, Xinhua College of Art Pan TianShou |
| Known for | Oil Painting, Drawing, Chinese ink painting, |
| Awards |
1964: Public Service Star 1975: Honorary degree of Doctor of Letters, National University of Singapore (NUS) 1980: Gold Medal, The National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan 1987: The First ASEAN Cultural Ad Communication Award 1992: Meritious Public Service Award (Posthumous) |
Chen Wen Hsi (simplified Chinese: 陈文希; traditional Chinese: 陳文希; pinyin: Chén Wén Xī) 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. Joseph Middle School.
After graduation from secondary school, Chen Wen Hsi decided to study full-time in fine art at the Shanghai College of Art in 1928, despite his uncle's objection. Unhappy with the college, Chen transferred to the Xinhua College of Art in Shanghai, where he was taught by renowned artists such as Pan Tianshou, with half of his classmates a year later. It was at Xinhua that he became acquainted with Chen Jen Hao, Chen Chong Swee and Liu Kang, all of whom were to become Singapore's Nanyang pioneer artists and art educationists. After four years at Xinhua, Chen graduated and returned to his hometown.
After getting married at his hometown, Chen Wen Hsi went to Swatow in 1929, at the age of 21. He left China in 1947, and since then he continued to have solo exhibitions in other parts of Asia: Shanghai (1931, 1933), Guangzhou (1932, 1936), Saigon (1948), Hong Kong (1949), Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur (1949), and Bangkok-Singapore (1950). In 1937, he received recognition and praise of Chinese painter Xu Beihong at the second Chinese National Art Exhibition in Nanjing. In the same year, an English arts magazine elected him as one of contemporary China's ten greatest artists.
In 1948, Chen arrived and settled in Singapore, where he originally planned to stay for not more than three months. In Singapore, he proceeded to teach art at The Chinese High School (1949–1968) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (1951–1959). Chen travelled to various places in Southeast Asia to collect drawing materials during his vacations, and he was especially inspired by the people and customs of Bali and Java. In June 1955, Chen took part in a seven-artist group exhibition organised by the Singapore Art Society.
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