Chen Chong Swee on the value of art education

Chen Chong Swee on the value of art education

Do you think Is art education important?

Find out the thoughts of local artist, Mr Chen Chen Swee.
Mr Chen was a prolific singaporean artist who exhibited his works at the famous group exhibition “Pictures of Bali” in 1953. He was an art educator, heading the Chinese painting department at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1951. He was an arts advocate, calling for the establishment of a National Gallery and collection. He was a writer, commenting on a wide variety of topics that range from the roles of artists in emerging countries to comparing eastern and western aesthetics.

Who decides what art means?

Just how much should an artist’s intention affect your interpretation of a painting?

This is a question that has been tossed around for decades. W.K Wimsatt and Monroe Beardsley argued that artistic intention was irrelevant and that it was just one of the many possible interpretations that existed. Steven Knapp and Walter Benn Michaels argued that an artist’s intended meaning was the only possible interpretation. Other thinkers feel that intention is just one piece in a larger discussion.

Watch this informative video by TED Ed to find out more!