Chen Wen Hsi (1906-1991)
Chen Wen Hsi (b.1906 - d.1991) is one of Singapore's pioneer artists and was one of the lecturers in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The late artist graduated from Xinhua Arts Academy in China and settle in Singapore in 1948. He is renowned for Chinese painting, and his works often depict the nature and animals.
Exhibitions1
1949 Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Singapore
1951 Joint exhibition with Chen Chong Swee, Liu Kang and Cheong Soo Pieng
1953 Joint exhibition with Chen Chong Swee, Liu Kang and Cheong Soo Pieng
1958 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1960 Victorian Artists’ Society, Melbourne, Australia
1962 Commonwealth Arts Today exhibition, London, England
1964 Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore. 1965: Malaysia Art Exhibition, Commonwealth Festival of Arts, United Kingdom
1965 Cologne and Duisburg, West Germany
1966 Artists’ Own Gallery, London, England
1968 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Oxford, England
1972 Adelaide Cultural Festival, Australia
1974 Melbourne, Australia
1977 Auckland, New Zealand
1980 National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan
1982 Chen Wen Hsi Retrospective, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
1987 Chen Wen Hsi Retrospective, National Art Museum of China, Beijing
1990 Taipei Fine Arts Museum, Taiwan
Awards
1964 Public Service Star, Republic of Singapore.2
1975 Honorary degree of Doctor of Letters, University of Singapore.3
1980 Gold medal, National Museum of History, Taipei, Taiwan.4
1987 ASEAN Cultural and Communication Award.5
1992 Meritorious Service Medal (Posthumous), Republic of Singapore.6
References
1 Chen, W. (2006). Convergences: Chen Wen Hsi centennial exhibition (Vol. 1). Singapore: Singapore Art Museum, pp.426–433. (Call no.: RSING 759.95957 CHE)
2 Chen, W. (2006). Convergences: Chen Wen Hsi centennial exhibition (Vol. 1). Singapore: Singapore Art Museum, p. 429. (Call no.: RSING 759.95957 CHE)
3 Chen, W. (2006). Convergences: Chen Wen Hsi centennial exhibition (Vol. 1). Singapore: Singapore Art Museum, p. 431. (Call no.: RSING 759.95957 CHE); Chong, W. H. (1982, November 4). The heart chose art. The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG
4 Reminiscence of Singapore’s pioneer art masters: Liu Kang, Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi. (1994). Singapore: Singapore Mint (Unpaginated) (Call no.: RSING 759.95957 REM)
5 Chen W. (2006). Convergences: Chen Wen Hsi centennial exhibition (Vol. 1). Singapore: Singapore Art Museum, p. 432. (Call no.: 759.95957 CHE); Asean award-winners honoured at dinner. (1987, August 20). The Straits Times, p. 14. Retrieved from NewspaperSG
