Song Nian
BORN: 1911
HOMETOWN: CHINA
The Reverend Song Nian (b. 1911 – 1997), a native of Jiangsu province, China, became a monk and was ordained at the age of 22. He moved to Singapore in the 1960s and became the abbot of Phou Tai Kok Temple (now the Mahabodhi Monastery, in Upper Bukit Timah, Singapore) in 1964.
Along with his Buddhist practice, Abbot Song Nian pursued calligraphy, painting, and seal carving. His works span many styles, from calligraphy executed in archaic seal scripts to wildly cursive writings. Several have been donated to the national collection, and he frequently donated his works to raise funds for charity. His calligraphy has been presented as gifts to foreign dignitaries, including Emperor Hirohito of Japan.
Since 2012 the record price for this artist at auction is $35,676 USD for “Landscape and Still Life'“, sold at China Guardian Auctions in 2014. In MutualArt’s artist press archive, Song Nian is featured in “Engaging Perspectives: New Art from Singapore” a piece from VernissageTV in February 2013.
Unfortunately, the artist passed away in 1997. However the legacy of this master continues to live on through his intricate paintings and traditional calligraphy pieces.