b. 1932, Shantou, Guangdong Province in China
About the Artist
Chua Mia Tee was born on 25 November 1931 in China. In 1937, his family migrated to Singapore when he was six. He grew up, playing along the banks of the Singapore River. His childhood experiences influenced him in his choice of theme and subjects. He attended Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from 1952 to 1957. He is one of Singapore's pioneer artists. He starts by painting on location, refining and completing the process in his studio later. To him, Art must reflect real life. It need not necessarily be fully naturalistic but it must be firmly grounded in reality, so that the work is in no way ambiguous but rather offers an easily accessible point of reference for the viewer. A member of the Equator Art Society founded in 1956, he is one of the pioneer practitioners of Social Realism. His famous works include National Language Class (1950) (Medium: Oil on canvas. Size: 112 x 153 cm. Collection of the Singapore Art Museum) and Workers in a Canteen (1974), which underlined a vigorous search towards an anti-colonialist and nationalistic identity in art. The 1953 Chinese High School Arts Association catalogue contains oils, woodcuts and drawings by Chua Mia Tee, and his associate artists such as Lim Yew Kuan, Lee Boon Wang and Lai Kui Fang. Later, these artists were active members of the Equator Art Society which opposed the formalist and newer "Western" trends which were regarded as going against the grain of the development of a national identity in art.
Chua Mia Tee is also a highly regarded master of portrait painting. He has captured on canvas prominent businessman and politicians including past and present presidents and prime ministers of Singapore. He has been invited to design currency notes and has proven his talents in creating the fifty-dollar commemorative banknote in celebration of Singapore's 25th year of independence, as well as a limited edition one million dollars commemorative note to mark the handover of Hong Kong to China.
His solo shows include the 1988 exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore, the 1985 exhibition at the Lone Pine Gallery and the British Council Art Gallery, Singapore, in 1974 and 1982. Group exhibitions include the 1989 National Museum Art gallery, Brunei and the 1980 Chinese Chamber of Commerce group exhibition. Private collections such as the American Embassy, IBM Corp., DBS Bank, Credit Suisse, Hong Leong Organization and the Singapore Island Country Club hold his works. Public collections include those at National Museum, Ministry of Community Development and the Urban Redeveopment Authority.
Exhibition
1931 - Born in China, Singapore Citizen
1952 - Graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
1952-56 - Appointed to teach the Academy by the late principle Mr Lim Tak Hai
1953/56 - Taught at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
1960 - Created the portrait bust of the late Mr Zubir Said, composer of the Singapore National Anthem - Created many bronze portrait busts of VIPs including Mr Chen Chong Swee, Mr and Mrs Soetopo Jananto, Mr Chou Yin Nan, etc.
1960-65 - Designer and illustrator at Grant Advertising International Incorporated
1965 -74 - Designer and illustrator of books at Times Organisation, Federal Publication
1974 - Following a highly successful first exhibition, became professional artist of paintings and sculptures, with occasiona lcontributions o book illustrations to the Educational Publications Bureau
1974-79 - Professional artists - Participated in numerous international exhibitions, including Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, Germany, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei and Malaysia - Professional Consultant, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts - Chairman, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Alumni Association - Chairman of the Selection Board for “Creative Award” - Chief Editor, “Nanyang Art”
1979 - Commissioned to make 36 sketches of Ministers and Members of the Parliament during meetings - Created a historical oil painting on the Prime Minister and his colleagues, returning from London after the “Merdeka Talk”, announcing the accomplishment to reporters and supporters
1979 - Joint exhibition in Indonesia
1980 - “Art Exhibition of Mr & Mrs Chua Mia Tee”, a joint exhibition with his wife, Lee Boon Ngan, at The Chinese Chamber of Commerce
1982 - Solo exhibition organized by The British Council Singapore
1985 - Solo exhibition at Ming Court Hotel, organized by the Long Line Gallery
1986 - Created relief mural “Towards High Technology”, 3m x 10m, for Ngee Ann Polytechnic
1987 - Conducted masterclasses during “The Fifth Asean Youth Workshop” for the young artists from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore
1988 - Participated in “The 50th Painting Exhibition of R. Basoeki Abdullah R.A.N.” in Jakarta, Indonesia
1989 - Participated in “The First Bru-Sin Art Exhibition” in Brunei Darussalam
1990 - Designed Singapore’s $50 currency note to commemorate Singapore’s 25th Anniversary - “Painting Exhibition of Chua Mia Tee & Lee Boon Ngan”, a joint exhibition with his wife, at the Singapore Hilton International - Designed Singapore $2 currency note - Created relief mural “Harmonious Brillance” 3 x15.5m for Ministry of Labour
1992 - “Chua Mia Tee – The Best of Four Decades”, a sole exhibition at Empress Place Museum Art Gallery - Painted “The Opening of the 8th Parliament” for the Parliament of Singapore
1993 - Featured in “An Exhibition of Paintings by 6 Outstanding Realistic Artist in Singapore” at Ngee Ann City Exhibition Hall
1996 - Participated in “The President’s Charity Art Exhibition” at Revenue House Atrium Singapore
1996-97 - Painted a series of five presidents, each with his ten important ministers, for Istana Singapore
1997 - Participated in “Art of the Living World”, organized by Bonhams Singapore, at the Raffles Hotel, Singapore - Designed the “One Million Dollars Commemorative Note”, a souvenir note to mark the handover of Hong Kong to China
1998 - Painted the portrait of “The First President of Singapore” for the new series of Presidential Currency Notes
1999 - Painted the portraits of the late Presidents Yusof Bin Ishak and Benjamin Henry Sheares for the new Parliament House Singapore - Painted “The Opening of the 9th Parliament” for the Parliament of Singapore
2000 - A joint exhibition with his wife at Linda Gallery Jakarta
2001 - Painted the building of Jurong Town Hall
2002 - Exhibition at Linda Gallery Singapore
注：本页面上发表的所有内容原自网络，均为原作者的观点，不代表艺连网的立场，也不代表艺连网的价值判断。
