After more than two decades, pioneering artist Chen Wen Hsi’s monumental Gibbons (1977) is now on public display as part of the newly launched exhibition Singapore Stories: Pathways and Detours in Art. Spanning an impressive 190 × 488 cm, this stunning ink painting featuring Chen’s signature gibbon motif is one of his largest surviving works.

Immerse yourself in the fascinating conservation process that has brought this masterpiece back to life. This film will reveal the intricate and meticulous efforts involved in restoring the artwork, offering an intimate look at the dedication and expertise required to preserve Chen’s legacy.

Following the screening, join Eve Zhang Yan, Art Restoration Specialist at Wen Bao Zhai Chinese Art Restoration, as she shares invaluable insights into the common damages affecting Chinese ink artworks, and the enduring importance of traditional scroll mounting in the age of modern technology.

Don’t miss the chance to explore and interact with specialised conservation tools and view paintings and calligraphy works affected by insect infestation and yellow mold in the Auditorium Foyer, where you can witness the art of conservation up close.

Please note that Zhang’s talk will be in Mandarin, with simultaneous translation to English.

历经二十余载，先锋艺术家陈文希的巨幅作品《猿》（1977）如今在全新推出的常设展《新加坡艺事：曲径通幽》中公开展出。这幅水墨画尺幅达 190 × 488 厘米，展现了陈文希标志性的猿猴主题，亦是他现存最大型的作品之一。

新加坡国家美术馆诚邀您踏上一场修复之旅，见证这件杰作如何重焕生机。 本次放映将揭示画作修复的过程，让您近距离感受修复团队的匠心技艺，深入了解他们为守护陈文希艺术传承所付出的非凡努力。

放映结束后，文宝斋国画修复师张艳将带来专题讲座，分享中国水墨作品常见的损害类型。讲座亦会探讨在现代科技发展下，传统书画装裱技艺为何依然不可或缺。

此外，欢迎前往礼堂前厅，观赏专业修复工具并了解受虫蛀或黄斑霉变影响的展品，亲身感受书画修复的精妙技艺。

张艳的讲座将以华语进行并提供同步英文翻译。

  • When: 23 March 2025
  • Suitable For: Adults, Families, Visitors 65 and above, Visitors with accessibility needs, Students and Educators
  • Where: City Hall Wing, Level B1, The Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium & Foyer
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About the speaker

Eve Zhang Yan holds an MA in Cultural Heritage Restoration, specializing in Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, from the China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, China.

She has over 20 years of expertise in traditional painting restoration, her extensive portfolio includes work on pieces by Qing dynasty artist Xu Gu, historical portraiture from the Guangxu era, and modern and contemporary masters such as Zhang Daqian, Liu Haisu, Qi Baishi, and Lin Fengmian. She has also restored works by esteemed local artists, including Wu Guanzhong, Chen Wen Hsi, Chua Ek Kay, and Lim Tze Peng.

Eve’s clientele spans both local and international private collectors, galleries, and cultural organizations, including Sotheby’s, the National Heritage Board (NHB), and the National Gallery Singapore (NGS), among others.

文保斋的修复师张艳毕业于中国美术学院，主修文物书画保护与修复，硕士学位。至今已有20多年的修复经验。

修复的作品包括张大千、刘海粟、齐白石、林风眠、吴冠中、钟泗宾、陈文希、蔡逸溪、林子平，等众多名家作品。客户包括海外和本地私人艺术收藏家、艺术画廊、政府机构和跨国组织，苏富比、国家文物局（新加坡）和国家美术馆（新加坡）等。

 

About At the Conservator's Bench series

What happens before an artwork is exhibited? At the Conservator's Bench introduces you to the myriad of individuals that contribute to an artwork’s journey to the Gallery’s walls. Meet the people behind the scenes and glean new insights into conservation techniques in this series that documents the material story of Southeast Asian art that is only just beginning to unfold.