Chen Cheng Mei

(b. 1927)

East Coast Kampung Life

Footnotes

Provenance
Private Singaporean Collection

Exhibited
Singapore, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Lim Hak Tai Gallery, Joie de Vivre: Chen Cheng Mei, 2014, unpaginated, illustrated in colour

"My travels and works attempt to reveal the myriad colours and lives in those countries visited, and I have derived infinite joy and happiness in creating them. I would like to dedicate them to Singaporeans in the hope that they can find similar joy from appreciating art or engaging in artistic activity."

― Chen Cheng Mei (CM Chen, Odyssey: Oil Works, Singapore, 2008, unpaginated)

Chen Cheng Mei (b. 1927) was one of the Ten-man Art Group's founding members, established in the 1960s. In 1949, she enrolled in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts under the tutelage of Cheong Soo Pieng; she also studied Chinese calligraphy under Chui Ta Tee.

Cheong Soo Pieng had recently arrived in Singapore from Fujian, China, and Chen was mesmerised by his unfettered originality and technical skills. He had a lasting impression on her creative process and saw the evolution of a bold style to re-invent and condense her art to illustrate a place's essence, making the complicated simple.

In 1961, Chen and nine artist friends set out to traverse the Malay Peninsula's length and breadth to record their impressions. The resulting works were shown in the first Ten-man Art Exhibition in the Victoria Memorial Hall. East Coast Kampung Life was painted during this trip and was exhibited at this inaugural exhibition in 1961.