陳文希

私人收藏，新加坡

Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, Convergences: Chen Wen Hsi Centennial Exhibition, Singapore, 1 December 2006 - 8 April 2007, Low Sze Wee

Chen Wen Hsi, Convergences: Chen Wen Hsi Centennial Exhibition, Singapore Art Museum (Volume I), Singapore, 2006, P. 408-409, Color plate 98

The work is in good condition overall. The paper is free from creases and foxing. Upon close observation, there is no sign of holes. Framed, under Plexiglas
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Clearly influenced by Cubism and Fauvism, Herons is a spectacular painting by Chen Wen Hsi that encapsulates his fascination with the form and figuration of this particular bird.

Chen is deeply inspired by the tropical scenery of Singapore, which is perhaps the prime reason why he moved there in 1948. With the large array of birds in Southeast Asia, Chen has a profound interest for the herons and has featured this bird in many of his paintings. The herons hold a special meaning in Chinese culture as it resembles the word ‘path’ in spoken-mandarin. The underlying message in this painting, therefore, could be understood as: ‘your path will always grow upwards’.

Using sharp and angular brushstrokes, Chen creates bold, elongated bird-like figures, which are then simplified into abstract shapes and patterns. Their beaks and bodies overlap one another, suggesting dynamism and movements in the depicted scene. Chen then pairs them with carefully selected shades of colours to create an illusion of depth, as the darker colors naturally assume the background, while the white herons jump out. Leaving a thin white space between each heron also suggests the interplay of light and shadows, a key aspect that evokes a certain mood and time to this painting.

Chen’s work is truly diversified, combining Western styles of art and traditional Chinese painting techniques with a Southeast Asian subject matter. The exploration of space is a definite quality that Chen imposes on us through his oeuvre which produces a very unique piece. His ability to create three-dimensional forms on a two-dimensional plane illustrates his proficiency in this style of painting.