Chua Ek Kay
Moonlight Over Lotus Pond, 2005, Ink on paper, 97 x 90 cm
Chua Ek Kay
Details:
Chua Ek Kay (b. 1947, China – d. 2008, Singapore) was an artist who is known for bridging Eastern and Western art. He was the first Chinese-ink painter to win the United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Award in 1991. Chua trained under master brush painter, Fan Chang Tien of the Shanghai School, but later developed a keen interest in Western art. The blend of traditional Chinese art forms and Western art techniques feature prominently in Chua’s paintings. He was awarded Singapore’s highest arts accolade – Cultural Medallion in 1999.
Education:
1957 Taught privately by Fan Chang Tien
1989 Lasalle-SIA College of the Arts, Singapore, Singapore
1994 Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), University of Tasmania, Australia
1995 Master of Arts, University of Western Sydney, Australia
Born in 1947 in Guangdong, China, and later settling in Singapore, Chua Ek Kay was a pioneering figure in contemporary ink painting who bridged the worlds of Eastern tradition and Western modernity. Widely recognised for redefining Chinese ink painting in a contemporary context, Chua’s oeuvre harmoniously fused classical Chinese techniques with Western artistic influences, creating a distinct visual language that was both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition.
A Pioneer of Cross-Cultural Expression
Chua’s artistic journey was shaped by dual influences: his classical training under Fan Chang Tien, a master of the Shanghai School, and his personal engagement with Western modern art. He was the first Chinese-ink painter to win the prestigious United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Award in 1991—an achievement that marked a turning point in the recognition of Chinese ink painting in contemporary art circles.
His work often captured the vanishing beauty of Singapore’s urban heritage—old shophouses, street scenes, and architectural facades—rendered in expressive brushwork that married lyrical spontaneity with meditative structure. Equally inspired by Chinese calligraphy, classical poetry, and the gestural dynamism of Western artists such as Jackson Pollock and Henri Matisse, Chua cultivated a style that was at once scholarly and experimental.
An Influential Force in Contemporary Ink
After becoming a full-time artist in 1985, Chua’s artistic vocabulary expanded to include abstraction and experimentation with composition, texture, and medium. His bold reinterpretation of ink traditions won him accolades including the Cultural Medallion in 1999, Singapore’s highest honour for the arts.
Chua held solo exhibitions in key cultural institutions such as the Singapore Tyler Print Institute, the Shanghai Art Museum, and the National Gallery Singapore. His works have been displayed in prominent public spaces including the Istana and Clarke Quay MRT Station, reflecting the wide-reaching impact of his practice.
Legacy and Posthumous Recognition
Following his passing in 2008, Chua’s legacy has continued to resonate in the art world. Major retrospective exhibitions, including Chua Ek Kay: After the Rain at the National Gallery Singapore in 2015, and Re-visiting Chua Ek Kay at the Singapore Tyler Print Institute in 2010, have celebrated his unique contribution to Southeast Asian art. His influence endures through his works held in public and private collections, and through generations of artists inspired by his cross-cultural vision.
Through his poetic brushstrokes and fearless integration of diverse art forms, Chua Ek Kay redefined what it meant to be an ink painter in the contemporary age—bridging cultures, histories, and artistic traditions with quiet brilliance.
Singapore Street Scene
2007
Ink on paper
58 x 64 cm
Old Street Scene
1995
Ink on paper
46 x 52 cm
Borobudur Golden Bamboo Pavilion
1996
Ink on Paper
95 x 89 cm
Lotus Series No.2
2003
Ink on paper
49 x 200 cm
Lotus Series No.6
2006
Ink on Paper
97 x 90 cm
Selected Solo Exhibitions
Awards, Grants and Artist Residency
Collections
Selected Group Exhibitions
Exhibition
Upcoming
Chua Ek Kay | Han Sai Por | Kumari Nahappan | Lin Hsin Hsin | Ng Yak Whee | Tan Choh Tee
01 July - 31 December 2025
11am to 6pm (excluding public holidays)
OCBC Bank Wisma Atria #04-01
Singapore
