Introduction to Chen Wen Hsi 陈文希 (original) (raw)
This essay was written for 'Convergences – Chen Wen Hsi Centennial Exhibition" organised by the Singapore Art Museum in 2006. Chen Wen Hsi was one of Singapore's most significant and influential modern artists of the 20th century. The essay examines the development of his artistic practice and interests against the wider context of art historical developments in China and Singapore.
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SINGAPORE'S PIONEER ARTISTS OF THE NANYANG SCHOOL -SOME THOUGHTS ON THEIR CREATIVE OEUVRES
Mention Singapore pioneer artists and 5 personalities come to mind – Cheong Soo Pieng (1917-1983), Chen Chong Swee (1910-1985), Chen Wenxi (1906-1991), Georgette Chen (1906-1993) and Liu Kang (1911-2004). Tons of research materials on each of them can be found and research on them and their legacy is still ongoing. This essay does not pretend to be a piece of research. Leaning on the research on the life cu=ycles of human creativity by Prof David Galenson, it is an attempt by the author to share some thoughts on the patterns of creativity of 2 of them – Cheong Soo Pieng and Georgette Chen. CSP’s artistic diversity could be explained by Galenson’s paradigm of Conceptual Innovator represented by Picasso. At the other end of the creativity spectrum, the paradigm of Experimental Innovator represented by Cezanne could be applied to GC’s focus on oil paintings and her pursuit of artistic perfection. As an extension to this assertion, the author believes that a mix of these 2 paradigms or the spectrum between them can be used to explain the artistic oeuvres of the other 3 pioneer artists. We, in Singapore, are indeed fortunate to able to enjoy the artistic oeuvres and legacies of our pioneer artists – now and in the years to come.
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