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禅僧 Monk preparing Meditation 嫩竹渐硕 The Autumn Bamboo 滿眼秋色皆山家 Mountain Dwelling in Autumn 山水系列 八幅 1970 年代 A Series of Eight Landscape 1970s

范昌乾

FAN CHANG TIEN

Master of Ink Painting

1907 - 1987

范昌乾

FAN CHANG TIEN

Master of Ink Painting

1907 - 1987

Fate and destiny had led Fan Chang Tien to become a Singaporean artist. Born in 1907 into a wealthy business family in Jieyang, Guangdong China. Fan graduated from the Xinhua Academy of Fine Arts in Shanghai, in 1928. As a young man, he was already a renowned artist in Guangdong China. He taught art and ran an art school before the local Chinese government sent him to Thailand in 1947 to seek donations from the overseas Chinese for the rebuilding of a teaching college which had been destroyed during the war.

Unfortunately, while he was in Bangkok, the civil war in China escalated and overnight, he lost everything he had, including his loved ones. Both his parents and brother’s family were persecuted as landlords. Fan was stranded alone in Bangkok for the next 8 to 9 years (1948-1956). It was there that he met and befriended the artist Zhang Daqian.

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Fan was 49 years old when he arrived in Singapore in 1956. He married Madame Heng Siew Leng, a Singaporean midwife, who owned a popular maternity clinic in Balestier Road. She was capable, and supported Fan financially in the pursuit of his passion. She helped set up an art studio named ‘The Pure Orchid Studio’(素兰室) in Balestier Road, where Fan could teach Chinese-ink painting to young Singaporeans without charging any fees.

During the 31 years he spent in Singapore, Fan was not interested in fame or self-promotion. In his poems, he would often describe his sentiments, philosophy and outlook in life.

Fan's artistic legacy in the development of Singapore art is immense, significant and of great consequence.

CHOY WENG YANG, Art Curator & Critic

Fan's artistic legacy in the development of Singapore art is immense, significant and of great consequence.

CHOY WENG YANG, Art Curator & Critic

Fan's artistic legacy in the development of Singapore art is immense, significant and of great consequence.

CHOY WENG YANG, Art Curator & Critic

Fan devoted himself wholeheartedly to his work and his students, imparting the tradition of Chinese-ink painting and core values of Chinese culture to a generation of Singaporeans who later became distinguished artists and art teachers themselves. Fan taught and encouraged his students to follow their own individual passions. They included Nai Swee Leng, Lim Kay Hiong, Tan Oe Pang, Tan Siow Aik, Wong Pik Wan, Lee Soo Chee, Low Eng, Ng Yong Choon, Henri Chen Kezhan, and the late Lim Cher Eng, and the late Cultural Medallion awardee Chua Ek Kay.

Fan was instrumental in the flourishing of a new Shanghai School of Art here in Singapore by propagating its creativity and diversity. This is evident in the many different individual styles of contemporary ink works from his students. This ink art has a direct lineage from the Shanghai School of Art grandmaster Wu Chang Shuo (1844-1927) who modernized Chinese ink art by infusing radiant colours to the mainly black and white traditional ink paintings.

ThE LIFE OF

FAN CHANG TIEN

1907-1987

FAN CHANG TIEN'S LIFE

July 1978

FAN CHANG TIEN’S PARIS EXHIBITION

1907-1987

PAST ACTIVITIES OF THE ARTIST

ThE LIFE OF

FAN CHANG TIEN

1907-1987

FAN CHANG TIEN'S LIFE

July 1978

FAN CHANG TIEN’S PARIS EXHIBITION

1907-1987

PAST ACTIVITIES OF THE ARTIST

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About us

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