Showcase 2: Chen and the Arts Community

Chen became a vital figure in the arts scene in Singapore following her arrival in 1953. The documents in these two showcases illustrate Chen’s contributions to, and recognition from, the arts community here. Chen taught drawing and oil painting on a part-time basis for three decades at NAFA. Her original application form to register as a teacher is on the extreme left. She not only played an important role as an educator there, but also as a mentor to a generation of future artists. Her students include the sculptor Ng Eng Teng and the painter Thomas Yeo, whose works can be seen in the DBS Singapore Gallery. Chen joined the Singapore Art Society, and was an active member there for decades. She was a regular participant of the society’s annual shows, and was later elected as a council member in 1959. In the 1970s, Chen took up the position of administrator of the Lee Foundation Fund for the Encouragement of Local Talent in the Fine Arts. Her role included funding approval for exhibitions, and supporting local institutions such as the Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya, or APAD, a non-profit artist society. Chen’s friend and former student, Rohani Ismail, whose portrait you saw earlier, was also an artist and key member of APAD. In 1974, APAD awarded Chen the Pingat APAD, or APAD medal, for her dedication and contributions to the development of visual arts in Singapore. You can see the original certificate for this medal at the “APAD and the Art Community” section. Chen’s reputation as an artist and teacher meant that she was regularly invited to sit on judging committees of various arts exhibitions. On display are several official letters inviting Chen to sit on such panels, such as the 1971 National Day Art exhibition. Together, these documents present Chen as an important figure participating in and shaping this formative period of Singapore’s art landscape.