CHEN WEN HSI, DR

Born 1906 in Baigong, Caozhu, China; died 1992 in Singapore. He was a student of the Hsin Hwa Art Academy in Shanghai. Leaving China in 1947 he travelled through Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia before arriving and settling in Singapore in 1948. He taught at the Chinese High School, Singapore (1949-1968) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore (1951-1959). He was conferred the Public Service Star and an honorary doctorate from the National University of Singapore.

Cubism in Asia : Unbounded Dialogues

Japan : 9 August to 2 October 2005 at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo

Korea : 11 November 2005 to 30 January 2006 at the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Korea

Singapore : 18 February 2006 to 9 April 2006 at the Singapore Art Museum

Cubism emerged in Paris at the beginning of the 20th century to mark a turning point in the history of modern Western painting. It has a profound influence on the subsequent artistic developments throughout the world, including Asia. In Asian countries, through repeated collision and fusion with the diverse range of pre-existing styles, traditions and customs, Cubism provided a stimulus to the question of 'modern art' to evolve specific to differing cultural settings. The Asian artists experimented with Cubism in many different directions, developing their own distinct approaches and styles.

Jointly presented by Singapore Art Museum, The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo, The Japan Foundation and The National Museum of Modern Art in Korea, Cubism in Asia aims to examine Asian modern art through Cubist works in Asia. Thematically arranged into four groupings that reflect the characteristics of Asian Cubism – On the Table, Cubism and Modernity, Cubism and Body, Cubism and Nation, this is the first known attempt to focus on the question of how artists in Asia responded to Cubist trends.

Featuring over 120 pieces of modern masterworks from 11 Asian countries, namely China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Philippine, Thailand and Vietnam, the exhibition brings together a constellation of renowned figures from across Asia such as Singapore pioneer artists Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi, Lim Hak Tai, Thai artist Thawan Duchanee, Philippine artist Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Indonesian artists But Mochtar and Mochtar Apin, Sri Lankan artist George Keyt, Chinese artist Li Hua, Japanese artist Yorozu Tetsugoro, Korean artist Kim Sou.

On show from 9 August to 2 October 2005 at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo, the exhibition will travel to the National Museum of Modern Art in Korea (11 November 2005 to 30 January 2006) and subsequently to the Singapore Art Museum (18 February 2006 – 9 April 2006).

One of Singapore's first-generation artists, Chen Wen Hsi's used to live there. His works are internationally and locally acclaimed.

Location of marked site : 7, Kingsmead Road This residence was formerly the house of Chen Wen His from the early 1960s till his death in 1991.