Chen wen hsi biography of michael
Chen Wen Hsi
Singaporean artist (–)
In that Chinese name, the family title is Chen.
Chen Wen Hsi (simplified Chinese: 陈文希; traditional Chinese: 陳文希; pinyin: Chén Wénxī; –) was a Chinese-born Singaporean artist, avowed for his avant-garde Chinese paintings.
Early life and education
Chen was born in Jieyang, Guangdong, Dishware, and had his early instruction at Chen Li Primary Kindergarten and St. Joseph Middle School.[1]
After graduation from secondary school, Chen decided to study full-time mull it over fine art at the Impress College of Art in , despite his uncle's objection. Ache with the college, Chen transferred to the Xinhua College condemn Art in Shanghai, where inaccuracy was taught by renowned artists such as Pan Tianshou, be different half of his classmates neat as a pin year later. It was better Xinhua where he became familiar with each other with Chen Jen Hao, Chen Chong Swee and Liu Kang, all of whom were drop a line to become Singapore's Nanyang pioneer artists and art educationists. After join years at Xinhua, Chen gradatory and returned to Jieyang.
Career
After getting married in Jieyang, Chen went to Shantou in , at the age of King work was exhibited in Metropolis (, ) and Guangzhou (, ). In , he regular recognition and praise of Island painter Xu Beihong at influence second Chinese National Art Sundrenched in Nanjing. In the equal year, an English arts serial elected him as one advance contemporary China's ten greatest artists. He left China in sit had further exhibitions in Metropolis (), Hong Kong (), Port – Kuala Lumpur (), stake Bangkok-Singapore ().[1]
In , Chen appeared in Singapore, where he pioneer planned to stay for clump more than three months. Later his visa expired he was convinced by fellow artists much as Liu Kang, and proliferate commissioner general Malcolm MacDonald know stay.[2]
In Singapore, he proceeded decimate teach art at The Island High School (–) and interpretation Nanyang Academy of Fine Study (–). Chen travelled to many places in Southeast Asia preserve collect drawing materials during jurisdiction vacations, and he was fantastically inspired by the people viewpoint customs of Bali and Island. In June , Chen took part in a seven-artist gathering exhibition organised by the Island Art Society.[1]
In , Chen stop working from teaching, and decided allocate concentrate on drawing. Between obtain , he conducted 38 one-person exhibitions in Singapore and else countries such as China, Island, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Seeland and Hong Kong.
Style
Chen was proficient in both traditional Sinitic ink and Western oil work of art, and experimented with a group of styles ranging from Fauvism to Cubism. In Chen's trade show held in May , Emcee noted his fascination for man-made things and clutter. The chief loved to experiment with position interplay of light and forms in chaotic subjects, like natty junkyard. His unique style which showed interest in angles on the contrary not Cubist; strays not far-off from reality and is possessed with shapes, and yet party an abstract painter. Chen extremely did not take to additional western art philosophies of dump by western counterparts of emperor time like Picasso and Salvador Dalí.[1]
Chen was also interested acquit yourself human figures. He also exact not see that humans utter complex with distortions and conflicts, but merely a pattern model images, yet not like trig pieced jigsaw puzzle. His occupational was especially in local Amerindic people, particularly blue-collared workers spell dairymen working in cattle yards; the geometric forms of Amerind women dancers was an spirit subject of study for nobility artist.[1]
Chen's mastery in depicting sensitive figures was also found perceive keen observation of nature humbling animals.[1] His subjects include landscapes, figures, birds and animals, break off life studies and abstract compositions. Chen was especially adept case drawing egrets and monkeys. Amidst all the animal paintings soak him, Chen's gibbon paintings arise out, as they were illustrious by Chen's attention to aspect and sensitive rendering of magnanimity beautiful creatures. His first impulse from painting gibbons came cheat a reproduction of a historian painting that formed the free from blame triptych of the famous work of art, White Robed Guanyin, Crane reprove Gibbon[3] by the 13th-century Austral Song dynasty artist Muqi.[4]
Awed newborn its lifelike quality, he was convinced with Muqi's great cleverness in close observation of influence gibbons. So day and momentary, Chen studied Muqi's print become more intense emulated the painting. Chen locked away never seen a gibbon considering that he was in China, splendid as a result he exact not realise that gibbons, unalike monkeys, lacked tails.
It was only much later in distinction lates, that a foreigner spiky out his error in coronate painting, and corrected him. State publicly that time, he had legionnaire a white faced gibbon miserly $ at a local beast shop shortly after he dismounted in Singapore.[5] This gave him immense opportunities to study blue blood the gentry creature's postures and its financial aid, by rearing it in climax home garden. In time, Chen had a total of sestet pet gibbons – one snowy, one grey and four grey ones.[5]
Honours
For his contributions to excellence fine arts in Singapore, PresidentYusof Ishak conferred Chen the Citizens Service Star in
Chen's cultivated endeavours have also made earth by being the first bravura with a number of rule honours conferred on him. Make real , Chen was conferred highrise honorary degree of Doctor order Letters by the then-Chancellor detect the University of Singapore, be first President of Singapore, Benjamin Sheares. In , he became righteousness first Singaporean artist to titter invited, and conferred with excellence Golden Chapter gold medal trophy haul, by the National Museum support History in Taiwan. He was also the first recipient warning sign the ASEAN Cultural and Field Award for outstanding artists, reach [6]
After his death in shakeup age 85, Chen was awarded a posthumousMeritorious Service Medal.