Chen Cheng Mei, Bumboats, 1985
Oil on canvas
59 x 73.5 cm (visible), 70 x 88 x 6 cm (framed)
Condition: Very good, with faint craquelure on areas with thicker impasto paint, consistent with the age of the work
Certificate of Authenticity and Proof of Purchase available
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Chen Cheng Mei 陈城梅 (Singaporean, 1927–2020) was a trailblazing artist whose resolute presence marked her as one of the few Singaporean women of her generation to sustain a lifelong artistic practice. A graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1954, she studied under Cheong Soo Pieng and Lim Hak Tai, spending weekends sketching outdoors with them. Chen was part of the Ten Men Art Group and travelled across Southeast Asia with them, but it was after the group’s reconfiguration that she journeyed more extensively throughout not only Asia, but Africa and the Americas.
Chen's paintings, etchings, and prints are marked by a quiet intensity. While her works appear simple or naive, they reflect a sophisticated understanding of texture and form, honed through printmaking and a deep engagement with literature and the natural world. Chen’s ethos was shaped by her belief that culture is the backbone of a country. Her works form a personal visual diary, documenting lives across regions with honesty. Often working outside the spotlight and at an intimate scale, Chen reminded us that art is not just about seeing, but feeling.
An avid traveller, Chen captured the world around her with an open heart and a distinctive artistic lens. Her style, marked by its naïve approach, emphasises vivid landscapes and topographies. Her work reflects a raw authenticity and an unfiltered connection to her subjects by employing bold, block-like colours enclosed within strong, well-defined outlines. Chen's art remains a vibrant testament to her journeys and the profound influence of the places she encountered.
Exhibited: “Joie de Vivre: Chen Cheng Mei”, Lim Hak Tai Gallery, Nanyang Academy of Fine Art, Singapore, 20 February - 23 March 2014
(Photographed in January 2025)