Biography Born on: October 1906, Zhejiang, China Died on: March 1993, Singapore Georgette Chen was considered one of the group of artists that established the "Nanyang Style" of painting. She is most known for her still life and portraits in oils. She was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 1982 for her outstanding achievement and contribution to Singapore art. |
“An artist, I tell you, has to be prepared to starve. But somehow the artist loves his work so much that he struggles on and succeeds.” - Georgette Chen
Georgette began teaching art part-time at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1954, and continued until 1980. Her paintings from 1951 onwards display her maturity as an artist. Her Western-style training with her use of local subject matter placed her as a Nanyang Style artist, a style that was characterised by its hybrid art form incorporating Asian themes and Western ideas and techniques.
Some of her works are shown below:
Georgette began teaching art part-time at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1954, and continued until 1980. Her paintings from 1951 onwards display her maturity as an artist. Her Western-style training with her use of local subject matter placed her as a Nanyang Style artist, a style that was characterised by its hybrid art form incorporating Asian themes and Western ideas and techniques.
Some of her works are shown below:
Georgette died in 1993 after a long battle with rheumatoid arthritis. She left no heirs, and the executor of her estate auctioned her house and sold off her investments in stocks and shares. The proceeds were distributed to several worthy causes, including the Georgette Chen Arts Scholarship for arts students, community welfare projects for the Malay community, and a new building for the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations.