The National Art Gallery, Singapore Celebrates the Centenary of Liu Kang's Birth

Written by Charles Kingston Monday, 01 August 2011 00:20

Singapore.- To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Liu Kang, a highly regarded and respected Singapore artist, the National Art Gallery, Singapore is organising "Liu Kang: A Centennial Celebration". Featuring 100 artworks, sketches, writings and artefacts, the exhibition invites art enthusiasts and visitors alike to explore the life and mind of the prolific  artist known for being one of the founders of the Nanyang movement. Visitors can also learn about his artistic beliefs and his insights on art and culture. Since the National Art Gallery will not open until 2015, this exhibition is being hosted by the Singapore Art Museum, where it will be on view until October 16th.

The late Liu Kang (1911 to 2004) played a key role in the development of Singapore’s art scene. In 1952, along with Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Chong Swee and Chen Wen Hsi, Liu made a historic field trip to Bali. The visual inspiration gathered then provided the catalyst for some of his later works. In the eyes of many arts scholars, the Bali trip is regarded as a milestone event contributing to the birth of the Nanyang art style - an important juncture in Singapore’s art history. Liu dedicated more than 33 years of his life to art education. He played a leading role in promoting the arts to the community and served as the President of the Society of Chinese Artists for more than a decade. Although the society was located in Singapore, it united artists from all across Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Vietnam. He was also one of the founding members of the Singapore Art Society, which warmly welcomed anyone interested in art, regardless of ethnicity or nationality. Mr Kwok Kian Chow, Director of the National Art Gallery, Singapore, said, “Believing that art is ’the spirit and soul of a people‘, Liu Kang emphasised the importance of raising artistic standards and art appreciation within the community. A key player in realising the Nanyang School in art, he played a strong and significant influence on the next generation of artists in Singapore.

We are happy to put together this exhibition to showcase his distinctive painting style and legacy”. Launched in the conjunction with this exhibition is the Gallery’s second title in the Asian Artist Series of books featuring the artistic talents of Southeast Asia. Entitled "Liu Kang: Colourful Modernist", the monograph presents Liu Kang in his voyage as an astute observer, commentator and visionary of modernity in Singapore art history. The publication offers fresh insights on the artist’s engagement with European and Chinese modernists in a Singaporean context. Previously unpublished archival photographs, along with 200 illustrations, are included in the publication.

The National Art Gallery, Singapore is a brand new visual arts institution building upon a sound foundation of scholarship and experience. Over time, they hope to strengthen Singapore’s role as a regional and international hub for visual arts. Right in the heart of the Civic District, two monumental buildings — the City Hall and the former Supreme Court — will be refurbished and reborn as the National Art Gallery. At 60,000 square metres, we will not only be the largest visual arts venue in Singapore but also one of the largest in the region when the Gallery opens officially in 2015. The collection’s strength lies in its comprehensive representation of Singapore art and its unparalleled holdings of works by major Singaporean artists such as Georgette Chen, Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng and Liu Kang. The collection also includes significant pieces from Southeast Asian artists of international standing, such as Affandi (Indonesia), Latiff Mohidin (Malaysia), Le Pho (Vietnam), Montien Boonma (Thailand) and Fernando Cueto Amorsolo (Phillippines). Apart from exhibitions within Singapore, their collection has also travelled to international museums and has been displayed at leading museums, galleries and institutions in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Visit the museum's website at ... http://nationalartgallery.sg


The Singapore Art Museum (SAM), which is hosting this exhibition, opened in January 1996, with the mission of preserving and presenting the art histories and contemporary art practices of Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region. In pursuit of this aim, SAM has amassed one of the world's largest public collection of modern and contemporary Southeast Asian artworks. Housed in a restored 19th century mission school, the museum draws from its collection and collaborates with leading international museums to present shows covering both local and international art practices, as well as cutting edge art expressions. Contemporary art of the region is given international exposure through the museum's travelling exhibition program and loans from the collection. Through strategic alliances with international arts and cultural institutions, SAM facilitates visual arts education, exchange, research and development within the region and internationally. The museum has forged partnerships with institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, Guggenheim Museum, Shanghai Art Museum, Seoul National University Museum of Art, Stedelijk Museum, Bonn Art Museum, Centre of International Modern Art, National Museum of India, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Asia Society in New York, Fukuoka Art Museum and Queensland Art Gallery. With Singapore becoming a global city for the arts, SAM's international networks bring about a confluence of ideas, and create a dynamic arts scene invigorated by international flows of ideas, talents, knowledge and resources. Community outreach continues to be an important area of the Museum's function. Through the Museum's exhibition programmes as well as its education and public programmes which cover a diversity of art trends and practices, fringe activities and public lectures, SAM Museum promotes awareness and appreciation of contemporary art and encourages the growth of an active and stimulating cultural environment in Singapore. The museum has hosted a series of travelling exhibitions since its opening, including those featuring works by Liu Kang, Leonardo Da Vinci, Chen Chong Swee, Fan Chang Tien, Lim Tze Peng and Chen Wen Hsi. SAM is also the organiser of the Singapore Biennale 2011. Visit the museum’s website at … http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg

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