In 2011, Mr Lloyd Zhao Hong arrived in Singapore and astounded art appreciators and critics with his brilliant culturally rich paintings. Born in Beijing, China, in 1967, Mr Zhao Hong was a mere child when he was exposed to the art of calligraphy by his father. This introduction  would unconsciously shape his later painting styles that featured traditional Chinese cultural figures in his ink wash paintings, and used poetry to complement his artworks.  Familiar with the ancient techniques of Chinese calligraphy, Mr Zhao Hong also adapts his teachings to create a more realistic, modernised style of ink wash paintings.

In his adolescent years during the 1980s, Professor Nan studied at a regular high school in the Dabie Mountainous area in Hubei. This youth, born into a farming family, chose English Language and Literature as his academic major, which allowed him to leave his hometown to study abroad, where he would also meet his wife in University. This decision marked a pivotal moment in Professor Nan’s life as his talent for language and translation, the humanities and the fine arts, history and calligraphy would be cultivated through his Chinese cultural roots and his experiences in a foreign land. In 2001, Professor Nan received a scholarship to study his Ph.D in the National University of Singapore where he immersed himself in the local cultural and historical landscape. In particular, Professor Nan was highly interested in the history of the Chinese Education Department and published numerous impressive theses over the years that have received widespread recognition.

Mr Zhu Hong immigrated to Singapore from China in 1997, where he practiced as an architect and interior designer before becoming a full-time artist. His knowledge and passion for architecture is evident in his artworks of cosmopolitan life. Mr Zhu Hong captures the spirit of buildings, of the city and suburbs, with energetic calligraphic brushstrokes. He also utilizes dynamic lines and angles that playfully distort architectural elements, which along with vibrant colours, reflect the lively atmosphere of Singapore.

Ms Karolewicz began her artistic journey focusing on traditional styles and portraiture, using oils, which are her favourite medium to work with. She quickly mastered the use of tonal values, colours, composition and light, which enabled her to transition into a more abstract style with ease by incorporating acrylics and other mediums. As a result she has now combined her two loves together; 'Contemporary and Traditional Art’. This has become her signature style that evokes a mixture of emotions in art elders. Staying true to her artistic vision, she has continued to produce these pieces that have proved to appeal and be appreciated by audiences of all ages and calibre.

As an artist, Mr Fan is constantly experimenting and evolving. He fuses realism with his creative ideas and representational art in his artistic expressions. He generously exploits both the Chinese techniques of ‘ink splash’ and ‘creased paper background’, and the Western tradition of representational art techniques in many of his compositions. His artworks are where East meets West, and this style is constantly brought up by a level in his paintings as he applies it in various ways to different subjects. These can be seen most evidently in “The Landscape” and “The Abstract” series of paintings.

Mr Simon Wee was born in Singapore in 1946. Having studied under the renowned first-generation Master Painter, Chen Wen Hsi - his first teacher who introduced him to the basics of painting, Mr Wee would continue to hone his skills in art and move on to graduate from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1967. Over the years, after studying and practicing various painting forms and techniques, he developed his own signature style, which is most distinguishable by one fluid calligraphic stroke in the center of a solid blank space.

Born in 1962 in Beijing, China, Ms Wu Xueli is an artist who specialises in oil painting. Before migrating to Singapore in 1991, she graduated from the Department of Linguistics Arts at the Beijing Institute of International Politics in 1984. She has also earned her Bachelor and Master degrees in Fine Art from the Royal Melbourne Institute (RMIT) in Australia.

As one of the most famous palette knife artists, Ms Wu adds at least forty layers of colours to her paintings and paints in an abstract style with a wide variety of colours that makes her pieces stand out vibrantly and beautifully. For her earlier works, she mostly drew inspiration from sceneries in Nature and in her surroundings. Abstract art now gives Ms Wu the freedom to let the rhythm and flow of her colours on the canvas to guide her.

Mr Chua’s art is unique in the way that he utilizes Chinese Ink, combining it with Western realism and traditional Chinese elements. Using the Western Perspective theory, he creates depth and volume to his works with his shading techniques. By diluting the ink to different levels of concentration and skilfully wielding his brush in various ways, he introduces texture to his paintings. With the methods and style that is specific to him, his art easily captivates the viewers’ attention.

Mr Aw Tee Hong is a Singaporean artist who is known for his works in oil and acrylic, watercolour, Chinese ink, charcoal and sculptures. Born in Wenchang, Hainan province, China, Mr Aw migrated with his parents to Kelantan, Malaysia at the age of 8 and later relocated to Singapore in 1950. Here, he studied art at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and later went on to pursue higher education in art at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China in 1956. 

During his enrolment at the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts in Beijing in 1957, Mr Ting Shao studied renowned Western artists such as Matisse, Picasso and Modigliani, who became great inspirations to him. This introduction to vastly different art movements and techniques, like a pebble tossed into a pond, created ripples within the artistic mind of Mr Ting who had mostly encountered traditional Chinese styles of art. In particular, he would infuse his traditional Chinese style artworks with bold colours drawn from Western art styles, very much a result of his heritage and life experiences. This would mark the beginnings of a star to be born.

A little more than a month ago in May 2021, renowned local artist Mr Tan Choo Kai passed away at the age of 84, leaving behind countless paintings for art appreciators to study and admire. As one of the few prolific painters in Singapore who had been painting and teaching tirelessly after his retirement, Mr Tan’s output demonstrated his diligence and truthfulness to his artistic vision.