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Fan Chang Tien: Homecoming of a Heritage exhibition at the China International Cultural Exchange Centre, Beijing

Rosa Daniel

Chief Executive Officer, National Arts Council, Singapore

The artistic journey of Fan Chang Tien is one that exemplifies passion and dedication to the tradition of Chinese painting. Known as a master of Chinese ink painting and one of Singapore’s most influential pioneer artists, Fan has inspired many arts practitioners and arts-lovers and set new directions for the art form.

The artistic journey of Fan Chang Tien is one that exemplifies passion and dedication to the tradition of Chinese painting.

Fan was the paragon of a literati artist. Hailing from the Shanghai School of Xieyi painting, he arrived in Singapore from China in the 1950s and set up The Pure Orchid Studio at Balestier Road, teaching Chinese ink painting to young Singaporeans for free.

Fan’s works often depicted bamboo and orchids, as an expression of the values he embodied. The bamboo represents the quality of resilience, and the orchid signifies refinement and goodness. The National Arts Council (NAC) wishes to celebrate these values and is appreciative that his works will be celebrated for the first time in his birth country in this major exhibition in Beijing. Indeed, this much-anticipated exhibition Fan Chang Tien: Homecoming of a Heritage is testimony to the enduring nature of Fan’s practice and will further develop new appreciation of his art in Singapore and internationally.

Beyond the tradition of Chinese-ink painting, Fan also imparted the core values of Chinese culture to his students, and encouraged them to follow their passion. Among his students was foremost Singaporean artist Chua Ek Kay, known for his fresh style and innovation that uniquely expressed Singapore’s national culture and artistic voice. Till today, Fan continues to inspire budding and established artists at home and abroad.

With Fan’s long standing ties to both China and Singapore, this exhibition in Beijing is also a timely reminder of the warm cultural relations between Singapore and China. In 2018, as part of the Joint Cooperation Bilateral Meetings with China, NAC and the China National Arts Fund signed a Memorandum of Understanding, signalling a commitment to work together in the areas of artistic collaborations, capability and skills development and bilateral exchanges. We hope such exchanges will strengthen the ties and enhance the friendship between the two countries.

I would like to congratulate the China International Cultural Exchange Centre and Singapore China Friendship Association for organising this inaugural exhibition of Fan’s works, making it possible for more to appreciate the legacy left behind by one of Singapore’s most respected ink painters.

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Asia Art Collective is an art advisory and consultancy specialised in Singaporean and Asian modern and contemporary art. Professional art services include providing clients with art advice on artwork purchase and sale, artwork valuation and assessment, art acquisition and collection planning, art sale and brokerage, as well as art commissioning and artwork sourcing. Asia Art Collective seeks to promote a culture of art appreciation and art acquisition and collection for Singapore art, and modern and contemporary Asian art through its diverse and rotating art exhibitions and art appreciation programmes, courses and talks. Enquire with Asia Art Collective for advice and support on your art-collecting journey.

亚洲艺汇有限公司(Asia Art Collective Pte Ltd )是新加坡专业的艺术品咨询顾问公司,公司的服务是为艺术收藏提供指导,制定策划购买艺术品方向,帮助藏家评估、分析艺术品市场价位、未来的市场走势。在选择艺术品方面,即要帮助藏家找到自己酷爱心怡的作品,同时也把艺术品列为藏家资产扩充的规划中,并且负责跟踪艺术品的买与卖。同时也提供新加坡艺术品量身定制服务

CURATOR 策展人
Iola Liu
92398226