Treasured Classics
A special collection of paintings that were painted between 1947 and 1998 by famous Singaporean artists.
Choo Keng Kwang
Sago Street
Oil on canvas
96x70cm
1976
Choo Keng Kwang was a graduate from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. He was awarded the public service medal in 1976 for his contributions to the arts. In 1977, Choo Keng Kwang painted a special calendar series of six paintings each depicting varnishing trades of Singapore. In 1984, he became the head of the art education department at NAFA. In 1986, Choo Keng Kwang was conferred the long service award for his contribution in education.
Choo Keng Kwang’s paintings have been presented to former leaders from Egypt as well as China and collected by former president Mr Ong Teng Cheng.
Choo Keng Kwang
One Fine Day
Oil on canvas
96x71cm
1984
Choo Keng Kwang was a graduate from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. He was awarded the public service medal in 1976 for his contributions to the arts. In 1977, Choo Keng Kwang painted a special calendar series of six paintings each depicting varnishing trades of Singapore. In 1984, he became the head of the art education department at NAFA. In 1986, Choo Keng Kwang was conferred the long service award for his contribution in education.
Choo Keng Kwang’s paintings have been presented to former leaders from Egypt as well as China and collected by former president Mr Ong Teng Cheng.
Lee Boon Wang
Keng Chew Street
Oil on canvas
56x76cm
1972
Lee Boon Wang graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1953 and lectured at the academy from 1955 to 1956. He was one of the founders of the Equator Art Society which reflected societal issues through realist art. His younger sister Lee Boon Ngan was married to well known artist Chua Mia Tee. 12 paintings by Lee Boon Wang were collected by the Sultan of Brunei and family in 1989.
Lee Boon Wang held his last solo exhibition in 2016 and passed away in the same year.
Lim Yew Kuan
Low Tide
Oil on Canvas
1975
Born in 1928, Mr Lim Yew Kuan is the son of Lim Hak Tai, founder of Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Lim Yew Kuan studied fine arts in both NAFA and London before serving as principal of NAFA from 1963 to 1979
Dr Ho Kah Leong
Happy Family
Wood Cut Print
44x66cm
1977
Woodcuts were known to have been practiced in Singapore as early as the 1930s, while the 1950s and 1960s were commonly described as the golden era for this form of expression in Singapore.
In 2018, our gallery collaborated with the Singapore Art Society and held a solo exhibition for Dr Ho Kah Leong. Wood cut prints 0f 30 local artists, scenes of life in the early days of Singapore and depictions of struggling refugees were showcased.
Chua Mia Tee
Chinatown
Oil on canvas
1978
Mr Chua Mia Tee is one of Singapore’s leading realist painters. His famous paintings include Epic Poem of Malaya completed in 1955 and National Language Class from 1959 can both be found at National Gallery Singapore. Chua Mia Tee is also well known for his paintings of Singapore’s leaders. His portrait of Singapore’s first president Yusof Ishak was later adapted for imprint on Singapore’s currency notes.
In 2015, Chua Mia Tee was awarded the Cultural Medallion for visual arts for his contributions to the arts in Singapore. In 2021, a solo exhibition of his paintings titled “Directing the Real” opened at the National Gallery Singapore.
Low Puay Hua
Singapore River
Watercolour on paper
53x35cm
1983
Price on request
Lee Boon Wang
Old Street Scene, Singapore
Oil on Canvas
61x89cm
1984
Price on request
Choo Keng Kwang
Old Street Scene, Singapore
Oil on Canvas
76x56cm
1980
Nai Swee Leng
Thirst Quenching
Ink on paper
1998
Price on request
Nai Swee Leng is a master in traditional Chinese ink painting who has been appointed as a jury member in numerous art competitions. He has recently been invited to demonstrate and give lectures on ink painting at the National Gallery Singapore
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