许铁生

Self Portrait 1939 Watercolour on paper 32 x 23.5 cm

自画像, 1939, Watercolour on paper, 32 x 23.5 cm

Artist Shui Tit Sing

许铁生

许铁生 (1914–1997) 中国出生的新加坡艺术家与美术教育家,他的艺术实践从早期的水墨与油画发展至后期以柚木雕刻为主的创作风格,作品常以朴实动人的笔触描绘日常生活中的平凡人物,体现出深厚的人文关怀与东方美学精神。
教育背景:

1937 国立杭州艺专绘画科

1940 国立艺专西洋画组

许铁生(1914–1997)是出生于中国、后定居新加坡的艺术家与教育者。他的艺术实践从早期的水墨与油画发展至后期以柚木雕刻为主的创作风格,作品常以朴实动人的笔触描绘日常生活中的平凡人物,体现出深厚的人文关怀与东方美学精神。他的艺术生涯贯穿教育与创作两大领域,是新加坡战后现代艺术与美术教育的重要奠基者之一。

1914年,许铁生出生于中国,少年时期就读于广州培英中学,并在摄影师何铁华的启蒙下对视觉艺术产生浓厚兴趣。1934年,他考入当时由林风眠担任校长的国立杭州艺专,主修绘画。求学期间师承林风眠、潘天寿、吴大羽、蔡威廉、常书鸿与关良等中国现代美术先驱,深受中西融合美学的影响。林风眠曾称他“有铁的意志”,寄予厚望。

在杭州艺专期间,他与赵无极、庄华岳、高冠华、郑天送等同窗友人一起生活、创作、交流艺术思想,并建立起深厚友谊。朱德群与吴冠中则是他的学弟,并深受他敬重。1937年,他自绘画系毕业,1940年完成西画专业课程后正式毕业。

1940年底,在郑天送与郑光汉的邀请下,许铁生前往马来亚,1941年至1945年任教于当时位于瓜拉庇劳的中华中学,战时期间默默耕耘美术教育事业。1947年起,他在新加坡长期从事教育工作,主要任教于公教中学(1948–1977),并曾在爱同小学及其他教育机构执教,培育出无数学生。1957年,他正式加入新加坡国籍。

除教学之外,许铁生始终坚持创作。他是新加坡中华美术研究会的重要成员,曾多次参与国家级展览,并于1960至70年代与“十人画会”成员——包括刘抗、叶之威、陈城梅、林子平等——一同前往东南亚各地写生考察,作品记录了当地人民的生活面貌与自然风貌。

1968年起,许铁生全力转向木雕创作,采用新加坡常见的柚木为材料,作品多描绘劳动者、妇女与乡村百姓的日常劳作。他曾表示,雕刻必须“东方风格、真实感人”。其后在雕塑家钟泗滨建议下,他尝试让作品呈现暗沉古朴的色调,增强历史感与岁月感,逐渐形成了他标志性的雕刻语言。

同年,在郑天送担任会长期间的推荐下,许铁生被推选为新加坡中华美术研究会的执委,携手陈文希、陈人浩、林友权、林子平等人共同推动协会发展,为本地华人美术奠定基础。

在创作后期,许铁生频繁走访世界各国,拍摄了大量照片,并以木雕形式记录各地风貌,作品从早期中国现代主义影响逐步扩展为更具全球视野的人文关怀。他始终铭记恩师林风眠的教诲:“为艺术而战”,并以一生践行将绘画与雕塑结合的艺术理想,献身于新加坡及世界的文化发展。

1997年,许铁生在新加坡逝世。他留下的艺术遗产,不仅体现在雕刻作品之中,更深植于他数十年教学生涯所影响的几代艺术学子心中。

日全食

1955
水彩
38.5 x 56.5 cm

Solar Eclipse 1955 Watercolour on paper 38.5 x 56.5 cm

运输(象)

1955
木版画
15.3 x 20.7 cm

Elephant Carriages 1955 Woodcut print 15.3 x 20.7 cm

马来西亚乡村

1941
水彩
23 x 31.4 cm

Kampong in Malaya 1941 Watercolour on paper 23 x 31.4 cm

个人展览

2025

(Re)discovering Shui Tit Sing, Prestige Gallery 品艺画廊, Singapore


2014

Shui Tit Sing – 100 Years of an Artist through his Archives, an exhibition by the“Singapore Art Archive Project (SAAP) @ CCA”, NTU CCA Singapore, Gillman Barracks, Singapore


Life of A Sculptor: The Story of Shui Tit Sing, That Spare Room, Singapore


1982

Art In Action: The Nature’s Way of Life (Woodcarvings by Shui Tit Sing), National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


群体展览

2024

Figuring a Scene, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore


2023

Being Made, Art Agenda, Singapore


2022

Nothing is Forever: Rethinking Sculpture in Singapore – The First Exploration of Singaporean Sculpture in Three Decades, National Gallery Singapore


2019

Another Diorama, Hu Yun in collaboration with Shui Tit Sing; NUS Museum, Singapore


200: Sculpture Society (Singapore) Annual Show 2019, Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, Singapore


2016

Anywhere but Here, Bétonsalon – Center for Art and Research; Paris, France


Singapore Art Archive Project @ SA SA BASSAC: Koh Nguang How and Shui Tit Sing, SA SA BASSAC; Phnom Penh, Cambodia


2010

The Story of Yeh Chi Wei (Works by The Ten Men Group), National Art Gallery and Singapore Art Museum; Singapore


2002

Singapore in Prints: 1950s to 1960s, A Historical Narrative Through Woodblock Prints, NUS Museums; National University of Singapore, Singapore


1998

History Through Prints: Woodblock Prints in Singapore, Singapore History Museum and Printmaking Society (Singapore); Singapore History Museum, Singapore


1996

A Century of Art in Singapore, National Heritage Board and Singapore Art Museum; Singapore Art Museum, Singapore


1995

Art 60: Exhibition in Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of The Society of Chinese Artists, The Society of Chinese Artists; Orchard Point Art Gallery, Singapore


1990

Urban Artists: 25 Years of Singapore Art, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


1988

Art ’88, Ministry of Community Development, Lianhe Zaobao, and Lianhe Wanbao; News Centre, Singapore


1985

Nanyang Art Exhibition, Asian Pacific Conference on Arts Education Organising Sub-Committee; Regional English Language Centre, Singapore


1981

Singapore Art Society Annual Exhibition, Singapore


1980

Singapore Festival of Arts 1980: Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Ministry of Culture and National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


1979

The Art Exhibition – 1st South East Asian & Pacific Congress of Biochemistry, Social Programme Sub-Committee of the 1st South East Asian & Pacific Congress of Clinical Biochemistry; National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


The Singapore Cultural Foundation Fund-Raising Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


Elders in Celebrity Art Exhibition, The Lee Kong Chian Museum of Asian Culture and The Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Singapore


1978

Art ’78: An Exhibition of Works by Artists in Singapore to Mark the Second Anniversary of the Official Opening of the National Museum of Art Gallery, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


Singapore Festival of Arts 1978: Exhibition of Contemporary Art, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


Singapore Historical Building Art Exhibition, Ministry of Culture; Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1977

Art ’77 (National Museum Art Gallery First Anniversary Exhibition), National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


Art Today, Singapore Art Society; Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1976

South-East Asia Art Association Art Exhibition 1976, South-East Asia Art Association; National Library, Singapore


Drawing and Sketches Exhibition, Singapore Art Society and Sin Chew Jit Poh; Sin Chew Jit Poh Promotional Centre, Singapore


Our People (Art Exhibition), Ministry of Culture; Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


Contemporary Singapore Sculpture, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore


1975

Singapore Teachers Art and Craft Association First Exhibition, National Museum Young People’s Gallery, Singapore


1974

South-East Asia Art Exhibition 1974, South-East Asia Art Association, Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1973

Art For Everyone, Ministry of Culture and The People’s Association, Paya Lebar Community Centre, Singapore


1970

Life in Sumatra,  Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1969

Art 150: A Grand Exhibition to Commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Singapore, Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1968

Singapore Teachers’ Art, Craft and Photography Exhibition, Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


Singapore Festival ’68, Singapore Arts Council and National Theatre Trust; The Gay World, Singapore


1967

Singapore Chinese Middle School Teachers’ Association and Union Building Fund Exhibition, Singapore


Singapore – Its Life and People (National Day 1967 Art and Photography Exhibition), Singapore Arts Council; Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1965

Tour of Sarawak, 1965 (Ten-Men Art Exhibition), Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1964

Eleven Singapore Artists – Scene from Cambodia and Thailand (Ten-Men Art Exhibition), Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1961

Cultural Festival 1961 – Exhibition of Works by Local Artists, Ministry of Culture; Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1960, 1967, 1971–1973, 1975–1977, 1979, 1981

National Day Art Exhibition, Singapore

Exhibition of Works by Local Artists in Celebration of First Anniversary of Self-Government, Ministry of Culture, Singapore Art Society, The Society of Chinese Artists, The Equator Art Society, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and Singapore Academy of Arts; Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore


1946

The Society of Chinese Artists Annual Art Exhibition, Singapore