Liu Kang (artist)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Liu.

Liu Kang, BBM (born Liu Kai; simplified Chinese: 刘抗; traditional Chinese: 劉抗; pinyin: Liú Kàng; 1 April 1911 – 1 June 2004) was a Chinese-born Singaporean artist of the School of Paris, known for his Balinese-themed figurative paintings. He was a founding member of the Singapore Art Society, and was credited with developing the Nanyang Style, an art style associated with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.^[1][2][3]

Liu Kang BBM
刘抗
Liu in the 1990s
Born	Liu Kai (1911-04-01)1 April 1911 Yongchun County, Fujian, Qing Dynasty
Died	1 June 2004(2004-06-01) (aged 93) Singapore
Nationality	Singaporean
Known for	Oil painting
Notable work	Autumn Colours (1930) Breakfast (1932) Artist and Model (1954) Durian Vendors (1957) Life by the River (1975)
Movement	School of Paris Nanyang Style
Spouse	Chen Jen Ping ​ (m. 1937)​
Children	5; including Thai Ker
Awards	Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (1970) Pingat Jasa Gemilang (1996)

Born in the Qing Dynasty, Liu spent his early years travelling between British Malaya to China for his education, attending Jinan University and the Shanghai Academy of Arts. Inspired by an interest in Western art, Liu went to Paris to study at the L'École Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts from 1929 to 1933, where he was further influenced by Academy president and artist Liu Haisu and French painters. He returned to Shanghai in 1933 and went to teach at his alma mater Shanghai Academy of Arts on the invitation of Liu Haisu. He stayed there until August 1937, when he decided to move to Muar, Malaysia, following the outbreak of the Second Sino-Japanese War, before later moving to Singapore in 1942.

In Singapore, he taught at different schools and was instrumental in developing the Nanyang Style, which he did alongside fellow artists Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, and Cheong Soo Pieng in a 1952 artistic trip to Bali.

Early life and education

Liu Kai was born in Yongchun County, Fujian Province, in the late Qing Dynasty on 1 April 1911.^[4] He moved to British Malaya when he was five, and had his primary education at Chonghua Primary School in Muar, Malaysia, where his father worked as a rubber merchant. During his time at Chonghua, his name was changed from "Liu Kai" to "Liu Kang", suspected to be due to a mispronunciation by the principal. Liu then had his secondary education in Singapore at The Chinese High School, but only studied there for one year before a strike led to the school's closure; as he originally lived at The Chinese High School, he later found housing at Haw Par Villa. Overtime, as the strike showed little signs of letting up, students like Liu decided to attend the Jinan University in Shanghai, China, instead as they offered an affiliated school.^[5]

Liu in Shanghai in 1926

After completing a term at Jinan University, Liu decided to remain in China for two months, mainly due to the travelling costs and distance to head back to the Nanyang region. He then saw an advertisement for the Shanghai Academy of Arts and decided to attend it as he had an interest in the arts. After the two months, Liu found he wanted to enrol in the Academy, and was made a second year student after passing the entrance examination.^[6] He typically painted in and studied both Western and Chinese styles at the Academy.^[7] After graduating, Liu then moved to Paris, France, in 1928 to further study Western art; during this time he lived with the Academy's principal Liu Haisu. He initially attended the Académie de la Grande Chaumière to study art, before attending the L'École Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts (present-day Beaux-Arts de Paris) from 1929 to 1933.^[8]

During his time in Paris, under the influence of Chinese artist and art teacher Liu Haisu, Liu studied painters such as Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Edgar Degas, and Henri Matisse.^[9] He also held salon exhibitions to display his works and visited museums such as the Louvre frequently. Liu additionally met sculptor Paul Landowski and painter Kees van Dongen, being interested in post-impressionist and fauvist art styles.^[10] Liu Haisu left Paris in 1930, and Liu subsequently stayed at a boarding house with writer Fu Lei.^[11]

Career

He returned to China after completing his studies in France in 1933, returning to the Shanghai Academy of Arts to teach Western art at its Western Arts Department; he worked there for five years.^[12] He was offered the job by Liu Haisu, who was initially uncertain of Liu's abilities teaching, and named Liu's studio "Haisu, Liu Kang Studio" to boost its credibility; Liu Haisu also set up an exhibition of Liu's Paris works for students to see before Liu arrived. During his time at the Academy, Liu was known for his "energetic teaching style and passion for art", having used different teaching methods as compared to the Academy's traditional Chinese practices. He soon became "one of the most sought-after professors" at the Academy.^[13] In August 1937, due to the Second Sino-Japanese War, Liu and his family moved to Muar, Malaysia, where he settled for another five years. In Muar, he experimented with using chalk and pastels due to the lack of art materials there.^[14] Liu later moved to Singapore in 1942 and began working at schools such as Chong Hwa High School, Nan Chiao Teachers' Training College, Chung Cheng High School, Nanyang Girls' High School, and The Chinese High School, where he taught art.^[15]

Liu's 1952 Bali trip was inspired by Belgian painter Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur (left; painting his wife Ni Pollok), whom they later met with in Bali.

He contributed to the arts in Singapore in other aspects, such as by serving as chairman of the Society of Chinese Artists from 1946 to 1958, president of the Singapore Art Society from 1968 to 1979, chairman of the National Day Art Exhibition Selection Committee, and chairman of the Visual Arts Advisory Committee.^[15] In 1952, Liu went on a trip to Bali with his fellow artist friends – Chen Chong Swee, Chen Wen Hsi, and Cheong Soo Pieng – in search of artistic influences based on the Balinese culture; this trip was inspired by the 1933 exhibition of Belgian painter Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur in Singapore. They travelled around Indonesia before staying at Bali for a month, where they met with Le Mayeur and his wife Ni Pollok. This trip saw the artists producing what is now known as the Nanyang Style, with Liu also creating some of his most well-known works such as Artist and Model and Batik Workers (both 1954).^[16] A subsequent 1953 exhibition in Singapore was held to showcase the over 100 works made by the four artists in Bali.^[17]

In 1970, Liu was awarded the Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Star) by the Singapore Government.^[18][19] He was honoured by the same agency in 1996 with the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal).^[18] In May 2003, the 92-year-old artist gave the majority of his paintings and sketches, amounting to over 1,000 pieces, to the Singapore Art Museum. He also unveiled a painting of three Balinese women, each carrying a basket, titled Offerings.^[20] Liu died on 1 June 2004, due to natural causes.^[18]

To commemorate the 100th year of Liu's birth, the National Gallery Singapore, together with the Global Chinese Arts & Culture Society and Lianhe Zaobao, held a forum titled "Liu Kang: Tropical Vanguard" on 2 April 2011. The forum brought together a panel of established artists and scholars to discuss Liu's significant influence and contributions to Singapore's art history.^[21] In 2025, his works were featured in an art exhibition at the National Gallery Singapore that commemorated Asian artists of the School of Paris.^[22]

Personal life

In 1937 Liu married Chen Jen Ping, sister of fellow painter Chen Jen Hao and they had four sons and one daughter.^[18] One of his sons, Liu Thai Ker, is an architect, urban planner and was the chairman of the National Arts Council of Singapore.^[18]