Foo Chee San, Untitled, Undated

Ink and colour on paper
34 x 56 cm (visible), 46 x 68 x 1.5 cm (framed)
Condition: Good, with foxing throughout the top section of the work

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Foo Chee San (Chinese, 1928-2017) was a second-generation Nanyang Artist. He first trained under the pioneer artists at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 1953 and attended the Singapore Teachers’ Training College in 1956. He attained a Diploma in Art Education at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, in 1984.

Foo taught at the National Institute of Education and returned to teach at NAFA until his retirement. He had many professional accomplishments from his time in Education and served as Vice President of the Singapore Art Society among other positions. In 1985, Foo received a Distinguished Service Medal from the Singapore Art Society, and in 1989, he was awarded the National Day Award (Long Service) from the Singapore government. As an artist, he was largely influenced by his educators and renowned artists Chen Chong Swee and Cheong Soo Pieng, leading him to his bounty of Chinese ink paintings demonstrating his devotion to the arts.

His work demonstrated his deep love for Southeast Asia as it often depicted these landscapes in the Impressionist style. Throughout the rapid development of Singapore, he sought out a few heritage areas like the older parts of Chinatown to become the subject of his work.

Artist Tan Kian Por (Chinese, 1949-2019), recommended the seller to purchase in 1975

(Photographed in January 2025)