Biography: Chen Wen Hsi

Chen Wen Hsi (Dr) (b. 1906, Baigong Village, Guangdong, China – d. 1992) is noted for his works in Chinese ink and for influencing the early Chinese artists in Singapore as an art educationist.

Chen enrolled in the Shanghai College of Art in 1928 but transferred to Xinhua College of Art with half his classmates a year later because they were unhappy with the Shanghai College. It was at Xinhua that he became acquainted with Chen Jen Hao, Chen Chong Swee and Liu Kang – all of whom were to become pioneer artists and art educationists of Singapore. After lecturing in the South China College, Shantou, China between 1946 to 1947, Wen Hsi settled in Singapore in 1948 and taught in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts between 1951 to 1959 and later became an art teacher of Singapore Chinese High School.

He held 38 one-man exhibitions between 1923 to 1993, in both local and international locations including Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, London and Beijing.

Awards
1964 : Public Service Star.
1980 : Gold Medal, National Museum History.
1987 : Asean Cultural and Communication Award.