X

iao Hong has long found a strong following in Singapore and the surrounding region, consistently appearing and selling in the auctions of local and international auction houses. His works are part of many major private collections regionally.

In his newest series of work entitled The Series of Intelligent Youth, Xiao Hong surpasses himself, unveiling masterful portrait work that has been carefully and thoughtfully layered with the faces and scenes of his countrymen. Depicting the young, talented and capable youth of China with historical scenes molded into their faces, Xiao Hong proudly shows off the next generation as beautiful people who continue to keep the lessons of the past in mind and root themselves in tradition, while moving toward the contemporary.

The exhibition first opened in Linda Gallery Beijing, China, where it met with huge success amid much critical acclaim. Singapore is the next stop for this amazing exhibition which will run at Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA), a museum that aims to bring the public the very best in contemporary art from the region, from June 11 to July 10. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; the location is 27A Loewen Road. For more information call +65 64762217.

(FYI, the exhibition’s next destination will be the National Museum Jakarta, Indonesia at the end of the year.)

Another stimulating exhibition to take place in Singapore is Shadows of Ink, by Quek Kiat Sing. The ancient medium of Chinese ink has been beautifully employed by this Singaporean artist to portray the familiar and contemporary in her enchanting works. By using recognizable subject-matters Kiat Sing hopes it will allow the audience to see just how creative and relevant Chinese ink, as a modern medium, can be.

In the words of the artist herself, “Figure painting in Chinese ink traditions has a long history. From the court maidens, portraits of officials, religious and mythological figures of the dynastic periods, to contemporary Chinese Opera figures, peasants during the Revolution as well as the cynical pop figures and the exaggerated erotica that are rushing into the market, it has evolved in terms of subject and techniques.”

Shadows of Ink is comprised of a selection of Kiat Sing’s smaller series of works produced over the past three years. Included is a series the artist created specially for the Vermont Studio Centre in 2008, which studies the intrigue and simplicity of the silhouette. In addition to these will be those where Kiat Sing focuses on the playful Japanese sub-culture fashion of Cosplay, and gestural ink paintings of families embracing Singapore’s cultural festivities.

At 38 years old, Kiat Sing has gained recognition through local awards such as the United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Competition and the Dr. Tan Tsze Chor Art Award. She represented Singapore at the ASEAN Cultural Week in Vietnam in 2004 and participated in the China ASEAN Youth Artwork Creativity Contest in China in 2006. Most recently Kiat Sing was one of Singapore’s finalists at the 2010 Sovereign Asian Art Prize of Hong Kong, and at present, lectures part time at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

Shadows of Ink runs from June 24 until July 10 at Chan Hampe Galleries at Tanjong Pagar, located at 21 Tanjong Pagar Road. The exhibition is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays (closed on Wednesday) and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. Admission is free. For enquires call +65 6222 1667.

For years, Xiao Hong had been hailed as one of China’s finest contemporary artists, standing out in his subject matter, technical skill and ingenuity. Portraiture dominates the oeuvre of this powerful, sensitive artist. Born in 1966, Xiao Hong demonstrates a strong conviction for his countrymen, comparable only to the determination and willpower of prominent scholars in Chinese history like Confucius.