Artist: Fan Chang Tien (b. 1907-1987)
The son of a wealthy businessman, the late Mr Fan Chang Tien (范昌乾) was born in 1907 in Jieyang, China. In 1928, He graduated from the Xinhua Academy of Fine Arts and the Changming Art Academy, both in Shanghai, under the tutelage of Shanghai School Haipai (海派) masters such as Mr Wang Geyi, Mr Wang Zhen (Yiting), Mr Pan Tianshou, and Mr Zhu Wenyun. This allowed Mr Fan to draw a direct lineage to the great Haipai master Mr Wu Changshuo, who modernised literati ink paintings for the cosmopolitan inhabitants of Shanghai.
Mr Fan’s prodigious talent was quickly recognised by the Chinese government who dispatched him to Bangkok, Thailand in 1947 to raise funds channelled to the rebuilding of infrastructure devastated by the War. Tragedy struck when Mr Fan’s family was implicated in the Chinese civil war while the artist was in Bangkok with the Chinese Civil War preventing his return to China. After this shattering personal loss, Mr Fan spent the next few years till 1956 drifting in Bangkok.
In 1956, Mr Fan arrived in Singapore and married his Singaporean wife. Establishing himself in a studio in Balestier Road, Mr Fan taught ink painting free of charge. Many of his students were involved in the Hwa Han Art Society, established in 1973, with the artist himself as its head advisor.
Being part of the Teochew intellectual community led Mr Fan to emphasise the literary aspects of the Haipai tradition, especially the assemblage of meanings provided within a piece of artwork through the four components of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and seal-carving. In particular, his self-composed poems, making full use of the metaphorical meanings of flora and fauna entrenched in Chinese literary culture, set him apart from other ink painters in Singapore. It was also within this textuality that Mr Fan made sense of his Nanyang background.
Old Plum Blossom
One of the most difficult artist styles to master, Chinese ink wash paintings are highly valued for their atmospheric touch and stylish illustrations. Manual grinding is used to produce different graininess levels of ink which affects the composition of the painting, as seen in Old Plum Blossom with a silt-like texture of the delicate leaves and a concentrated, sandy texture for the rough bark. Alternating between thin, careful lines and swift, broad strokes, Mr Fan Chang Tien mimics the turning and branching out of the plum blossom tree that blooms in winter.
This East and Southeast Asian tree species is highly beloved and has been the subject of many artistic works for centuries. In China, the plum blossom symbolises ethereal elegance, purity, and perseverance, with its subtle fragrance that drifts through the cold air in an otherwise barren winter landscape. The semi abstract and expressionist art of Old Plum Blossom that emphasises the tree’s age and longevity, also resonates with these virtues and may stand for the artist’s own principles in his lifetime.
To Mr Fan, ink painting and art in general represented a sacred place in his heart and he remained unwavered by wealth, fame, and status even after his explosive success. Instead, the artist concentrated on passing his artistic knowledge to future generations and expanding the public’s awareness of the Chinese cultural essence and values.
Pair of Mynahs with Red Cherry Blossom
Different from the plum blossom, the cherry blossom, also known as Sakura, has a sweeter flowery fragrance and split ends at the tip of its reddish petals. Pair of Mynahs with Red Cherry Blossom is a thoughtful, merry piece with expressive shapes and pleasing colours. Mynahs are known for their loyalty and faithfulness, with only one mate for life, which makes them symbols of undying, everlasting love.
Mr Fan’s restful ink painting completely relaxes art viewers who gaze enviously at the feathered duo who perch on the blossoming tree idly. Ornating the cherry blossom with sparse dabs of red berry colour, the artist prevents an oversaturation of colour that would disrupt the overall tranquillity intended of the piece. Facing this art piece, one may feel inspired to spontaneously compose a poem, sing a song, or to just stretch lazily.
The beneficiary of the teachings of renowned art and ink masters, Mr Fan Chang Tien was well aware of the importance of apprenticeship. After his retirement, Mr Fan busied himself with poetry writing, painting, seal cutting, growing flowers, and teaching. Some of his notable students include Nai Swee Leng, Lim Kay Hiong, Tan Oe Pang, Henri Chen Kezhan, Lim Cher Eng, and Chua Ek Kay.
With his personal experiences with loss, instability, and worldly success, Mr Fan grew to cherish life and all its wonders. While life may be fleeting, precious moments may be captured by the skilful brush work of an artist that understands this fact. What is then produced is art that resonates through eternity.
