National Art Gallery, Singapore Receives 20 Artworks by Ink Artist Tan Oe Pang from Dr George Quek
Painting of Buffalo
2002
Ink and colour on rice paper
246 x 123cm
Collection of National Heritage Board
The National Art Gallery, Singapore is happy to announce that it has received a generous donation of 20 artworks by leading local ink artist, Tan Oe Pang. The artworks are generously donated by Dr George Quek, Chairman of BreadTalk Group Limited.
Lauded for his daring use of ink and exaggerated compositions, Tan Oe Pang has established himself as one of the most innovative practitioners in ink painting today. Trained under the tutelage of Chinese ink artist, Fan Chang Tien, Tan quickly went on to develop his own artistic voice in a pursuit to revolutionise traditions in art making. Known for the portrayal of urban subjects using Chinese ink, Tan’s trademark ‘海派’ (hai pai) style reveals his unique expression in the medium. Tan has exhibited widely, showcasing his works in Brazil, Chile, Germany, Holland, Scotland, South Korea, Taiwan and USA. He participated in the 1985 International Biennial of Arts in Sao Paolo, the 1989 International Biennial of Arts Valparasio in Chile and the 1992 International Biennial for Ink Painting in Shenzhen.
Dr George Quek has been a keen supporter of the arts for many years. Dr Quek was recently awarded a Partner of Heritage Award at National Heritage Board’s Patron of Heritage Award 2010 on 15 April 2011. He also sits on the Board of the Singapore Art Museum.
The donation includes artworks from the early 1990s all the way to 2009. Other than the gift of 20 works, Tan Oe Pang himself donated two of his artworks to the Gallery. Titled A Billion Years and 9th August, the donations were made last year to commemorate Singapore’s 45th National Day. Along with these latest valuable additions to the National Collection, the Gallery’s current collection of artworks by Tan Oe Pang has grown to encompass a sizeable number of ink and oil works.
Director of The National Art Gallery, Singapore, Mr Kwok Kian Chow, said, “Dr George Quek’s donation provides the Gallery with a representational body of Oe Pang’s works that enables us to further research into his artistic progress, as well as the development of contemporary ink painting in Singapore, which is unique in the world of ink paintings. Donors like Dr Quek play an important role in helping the Gallery to grow and share our collection with visitors from Singapore and around the world.”
Tan’s mastery of ink techniques are evident from his brushwork in noteworthy paintings such as Painting of Buffalo and Fish and Lotus, both of which are on display at the Notable Acquisitions Exhibition 2011: Featuring works by Tan Oe Pang. The exhibition features 16 selected artworks from the donation collection and will be held at the Singapore Art Museum from 18 April to 21 August 2011. Members of the public are welcome to visit the exhibition.
Biography of Tan Oe Pang
| 1947 | Born in Singapore |
| 1962 | Completed Primary Education at Catholic High (Primary) School |
| 1966 | Completed Secondary Education at Whampoa Secondary School. Became a formal student of Fan Cheng Tien, studying traditional Chinese ink painting |
| 1964 - 1975 | Participated in Singapore National Day Art Exhibition. |
| 1969 | Graduated from Teachers’ Training College, Singapore |
| 1970 | Teacher at primary school |
| 1975 | Obtained President Efficiency Award |
| 1980 | Lecturer at School of Continuing Studies, National University of Singapore |
| 1981 | Participated in Art Exhibition, Finland Participated in the International Chinese Ink-Painting Exhibition, Taiwan |
| 1983 – 1995 | Art Specialist, Curriculum Development Institute of Singapore, Ministry of Education, Singapore |
| 1985 | Participated in the International Biennial of Arts Sao Paolo, Brazil Head of Art Research Centre, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore |
| 1986 | Participated in Art Exhibition at Asian Games, South Korea |
| 1987 | Participated in Art Exhibition at the Tropen Museum, Holland First Southeast Asian artist to be invited by Chinese Art Research Institute, Beijing to guest lecture and organise solo exhibitions in calligraphy and painting at the Institute |
| 1988 | Invited with master artist Chen Wen Hsi to Beijing for the International Chinese Ink Painting Exhibition where Tan Oe Pang’s A Han Acrobatics was awarded 优秀作品奖 ‘Excellence Award’ |
| 1989 | Invited to participate in the International Biennial of Arts Valparaiso, Chile |
| 1990 | Participated in the Mannheim Art Exhibition, West Germany |
| 1991 | Participated in International Art Exhibition, Washington USA |
| 1992 | Participated in East-West Modern Art Exhibition, Glasgow, Scotland Participated in the second International Biennial for Ink Painting, the Guanshan Yue Art Gallery, Shenzhen Solo Exhibition at the Goethe-Institute Art Gallery, Singapore Published Tan Oe Pang’s Poetry and Verse, Volume One. |
| 1994 | Accepted by the World’s Fine Art Publishing Inc. for publication in The World’s Greatest Fine Artist Encyclopaedia in USA |
| 1995 | Appointed by Taiwan Zhong Hua PCPS Academy as Academician. Obtained International Grand Master and Paragon Award by PCPS Academy, Taiwan. Participated in Non-Alliance Countries Modern Art Exhibition, organised by the Government of Indonesia. |
| 2001 | Solo Exhibition at China Art Museum, Invited by the Beijing Art Institute. |
| 2002 | Invited as a Guest Lecturer under the Man of Learning Programme, National University of Singapore |
| 2005 | Published Tan Oe Pang’s Compilation of Tang Poetry |