The UOB Southeast Asia Gallery is temporarily closed and will reopen in late 2027. In the meantime, works from the National Collection remain exhibited across the Gallery.
Raden Salah. Boschbrand (Forest Fire). 1849. Oil on canvas, 300 x 396 cm. Collection of National Gallery Singapore. This work has been adopted by Yong Hon Kong Foundation.
Presented in Singapore for the very first time, this is the largest travelling exhibition of artist He Xiangning’s (何香凝) (b. 1878, China; d. 1972, China) artworks from the He Xiangning Art Museum (Shenzhen, China).
A leading ink artist and a prominent political figure, He Xiangning played an important role in the development of modern China. One of the earliest Chinese women to pursue art studies in Japan, she was closely connected to the Lingnan school. Works such as Lion (1914), along with her notable fundraising art exhibitions in Singapore and Manila in 1929, demonstrate how she fused political and social ideals through her art.
Featuring over 50 ink works and extensive archival materials, the exhibition reconnects He Xiangning's artistic activities and significance to Chinese modern art, Singapore, Penang and the region’s art history.
When: 1 Apr – 23 Aug 2026
Suitable For: All
Where: City Hall Wing, Level 4, Wu Guanzhong Gallery
Ticket Information: General Admission ticket required
For access to our ticketed spaces and exhibitions, an admission ticket is required.
Free admission to all areas for Gallery insiders, children aged 6 and below, students and teachers currently based in Singapore, persons with disabilities (PWD) and their caregiver.
General Admission Ticket
A General Admission ticket grants one-time entry to selected exhibitions and tours, valid for 180 days from the purchase date.
Concession rates of $5 off apply to all ticket types for children aged 7–12, seniors aged 60 and above, full-time National Servicemen (excluding foreign personnel), and overseas students and teachers from qualifying institutions.
General Admission Ticket
A General Admission ticket grants one-time entry to selected exhibitions and tours, valid for 180 days from the purchase date.
Concession rate of $5 off apply to all ticket type applicable to children aged 7–12, seniors aged 60 and above, overseas students & teachers and full-time National Servicemen (NSF), excluding foreign personnel.
Before you visit
Some parts of the Gallery may be cold, so please bring along a jacket just in case.
More information about accessibility and etiquette at the Gallery can be found at Visitor Information.
Audio tours for selected artworks are also available and can be accessed by scanning the QR codes on the respective artwork labels.
From powerful depictions of lions to evocative landscapes, this exhibition brings together paintings, calligraphy, poetry, and archival materials to explore He Xiangning’s artistic world.
Across her works, recurring motifs such as lions, pine trees, and winter scenes reflect ideas of resilience, solidarity, and moral conviction shaped by a rapidly changing era. Archival materials also offer a glimpse into her wide artistic and social networks across China and Southeast Asia.
Organised into four chronological sections, the exhibition follows the evolution of her art and the historical moments that defined it. Come discover a practice shaped as much by conviction as by craft.
Featured artworks
Lion
He Xiangning
1914. Ink and colour on silk, 63 × 49 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Lion
1914. Ink and colour on silk, 63 × 49 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Tiger
He Xiangning
1910. Ink and colour on silk, 26 × 30 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Tiger
1910. Ink and colour on silk, 26 × 30 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Pine and Chrysanthemums.
He Xiangning
1931. Ink and colour on paper, 173 × 273 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Pine and Chrysanthemums.
1931. Ink and colour on paper, 173 × 273 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Pine, Bamboo and Plum Blossoms
He Xiangning, Jing Hengyi, Chen Shuren, Yu Youren
1928. Ink on paper, 137 × 34 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Pine, Bamboo and Plum Blossoms
1928. Ink on paper, 137 × 34 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Pine, Bamboo and Plum Blossoms
He Xiangning, Jing Hengyi, Chen Shuren, Yu Youren
1936. Ink and colour on paper, 143 × 47.4 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Pine, Bamboo and Plum Blossoms
1936. Ink and colour on paper, 143 × 47.4 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Plum Blossoms, Rock and Peonies
He Xiangning
c. 1920s. Ink and colour on paper, 146 × 45 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Plum Blossoms, Rock and Peonies
c. 1920s. Ink and colour on paper, 146 × 45 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
A Moonlit Scene
He Xiangning
c. 1920s. Ink and colour on paper, 80 × 38 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
A Moonlit Scene
c. 1920s. Ink and colour on paper, 80 × 38 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Press On. For Mr Khoo Seok Wan’s keepsake
He Xiangning
Republican year 18, October. From Album of Treasured Ink by Lin Zexu. Ink on paper, c. late 18th to early 20th century. Collection of Ong Cheng Kian and family, descendants of Khoo Seok Wan.
Press On. For Mr Khoo Seok Wan’s keepsake
Republican year 18, October. From Album of Treasured Ink by Lin Zexu. Ink on paper, c. late 18th to early 20th century. Collection of Ong Cheng Kian and family, descendants of Khoo Seok Wan.
Green Plum Blossoms
He Xiangning
1943. Ink and colour on paper, 57 × 36 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Green Plum Blossoms
1943. Ink and colour on paper, 57 × 36 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
The Tall Pine Stands at the Sea’s Edge
He Xiangning
1960. Ink and colour on paper, 135 × 140 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
The Tall Pine Stands at the Sea’s Edge
1960. Ink and colour on paper, 135 × 140 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Appreciating the Snow
He Xiangning, Fu Baoshi
1962. Ink and colour on paper, 132 × 37 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
Appreciating the Snow
1962. Ink and colour on paper, 132 × 37 cm. Collection of He Xiangning Art Museum.
He Xiangning (1878–1972) was a leading figure in modern China, recognised as a social activist and artist. One of the earliest members of the Tongmenghui, she was also among the earliest Chinese women artists to study overseas. Through her art, He Xiangning engaged in socio-political activities and advocated for women’s rights. Plum blossoms, lions and landscapes often feature in her work. While they reflect her personal convictions, resilience and hopes for national renewal, it also offers insight into the transformation of Chinese painting from inherited traditions to modern expression.
Image Credit: He Xiangning painting for a charity exhibition, 1931 1931年，正在为慈善展览作画的何香凝
Experience He Xiangning: Ink & Intent on a 1-hour guided tour. Explore the work of a key figure in modern Chinese art and politics, and discover how her ink paintings reflect a life shaped by social change and personal conviction. Encounter rarely seen works from the largest travelling presentation of her practice, and gain deeper insight into her approach to ink as both medium and expression.
Complementing the exhibition is a self-guided learning station dedicated to He Xiangning's artistic world. The station offers an educational introduction to her style, exploring the use of symbolism and the seamless integration of poetry and painting in her Chinese ink works, alongside recurring motifs such as pine, lions, and tigers.
Poetry cards featuring her verses in both Chinese and English are available for visitors to select and personalise using stamps inspired by her signature imagery. Visitors are also invited to respond to reflective prompts through writing or drawing, with the option of contributing to a communal display that will grow and evolve throughout the course of the exhibition
He Xiangning was a leading figure in modern China, recognised as a social activist and artist. A member of the Tongmenghui, she was also among the earliest Chinese women artists to study overseas. Through sustained practice, she developed a distinctive painting style. Beyond personal enjoyment, she spent her life actively engaging in social and political causes through art, advocating for women’s rights.
11 Jul 2026, 2pm
National Gallery Singapore, City Hall Wing, Level B1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium
Slow Art with Friends offers a refreshing take on your regular guided museum experience. In this group experience, facilitators will guide you through activities inspired by He Xiangning’s art and life. Each activity contains an exercise in “slow looking”, a practice that encourages you to look a little longer at art. This is an interactive programme for anyone interested in exploring a different type of art engagement. No prior knowledge of art is required. Suitable for ages 13 and above.
Pick up an activity booklet and pencil at the Visitor Information counters, and take part in Slow Art with Friends — featuring three engaging activities inspired by He Xiangning’s art and life.
1 Apr – 23 Aug 2026, 10am – 7pm
City Hall Wing, Level 4, Wu Guanzhong Gallery, Lift Lobby A
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