Frame size: Unframed
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.The museum’s strong collection of studies and preparatory sketches, spanning Liu’s artistic oeuvre, gives an insight into his creative process. The subject appears in the same pose in two earlier works dated 1948 and 1955. This portrait is drawn in 1972, 24 years after the first one and is an example of how Liu refers to his earlier sketches for inspiration from time to time.
