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I stand in front of this fascinating Asian painting in the National Gallery Singapore, and it captures me immediately. Here is my description of this special work and of the artist:
My encounter with the gibbons
The large mural shows a group of gibbons swinging with incredible ease through the branches of an old tree. The long, graceful arms of the apes and their lively faces look almost as if they were jumping through the room right in front of my eyes. It is fascinating to see how the painter created such a dynamic and at the same time harmonious nature scene with fine ink strokes and soft shades of colour.
The painter: Chen Wen Hsi
This masterpiece is by Chen Wen Hsi (1906–1991), one of the most important pioneers of modern art in Singapore.
• Famous motifs: Chen Wen Hsi is known worldwide for his paintings of gibbons. He watched these animals so closely that he could capture their movements perfectly.
• A national symbol: He is so important for Singapore that part of one of his gibbon paintings even appears on the back of the Singapore 50-dollar note.
• Style: He was a master at combining traditional Chinese ink painting with Western influences, which you can see beautifully in the special depth and texture of this painting.
A look at the artist at work
Right next to the painting hangs an impressive black-and-white photograph (taken by Chua Soo Bin) that shows the artist Chen Wen Hsi in his studio.
• The moment of creation: I see him there with a brush in his hand and a cheeky smile on his face, while he is working on one of his famous ape motifs.
• The atmosphere: Small clay bowls for the ink and different brushes are ready on his work table. It feels as if I am getting a private look into his creative world.
It is a special experience to stand here in the gallery and feel the connection between the finished artwork and the person behind it so closely.
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