Crab (Still Life)

Title
Crab (Still Life)
Creator
Year/Period
1947
Region
Singapore
Material
Dimension
Image size: 38 x 56 cm,
Frame size: Unframed
Accession No.
2003-04160
Credit Line
Gift of the artist’s family

Born in Fujian Province, Liu Kang (1911-2004) received his formal training in Shanghai Academy of Fine Art, where he was exposed to Chinese paintings. In 1928, he went to Paris where he was influenced by art movements such as Fauvism and Post-Impressionism. Not only was he one of Singapore’s pioneer artists, he was also a leading figure in the Society of Chinese Artists and the Singapore Art Society. In 1970, he was awarded the Public Service Star for his contributions in the field of art.Pastel was initially used by Liu as a replacement for oil paints during the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945). However he found the luminous quality of pastel attractive and began to use it first for portraiture and later for still lifetoo.