Georgette Chen
Georgette Liying Chendana Chen (simplified Chinese: 张荔英; traditional Chinese: 張荔英; pinyin: Zhāng Lìyīng; Born Chang Li Ying; 23 October 1906 – 15 March 1993), most commonly known as Georgette Chen, was a Singaporean painter and one of the pioneers of modern Singaporean art as well as the Nanyang style of art in the region.
Georgette Chen | |||||||
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张荔英 | |||||||
Born | 23 October 1906 Chekiang (Zhejiang), Qing Dynasty | ||||||
Died | 15 March 1993 (aged 86) | ||||||
Resting place | Mandai Crematorium | ||||||
Nationality | Singaporean | ||||||
Education | Académie Colarossi; Académie Biloul; Art Students League of New York | ||||||
Known for | Oil painting | ||||||
Movement | Nanyang Style Impressionism Post-Impressionism Fauvism | ||||||
Spouse | |||||||
Awards | 1982: Cultural Medallion (Visual arts) | ||||||
Chinese name | |||||||
Traditional Chinese | 張荔英 | ||||||
Simplified Chinese | 张荔英 | ||||||
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A key figure in the development of modern art in Singapore, Chen is known for her oil paintings and contributions to art education as a teacher at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) from 1954 to 1981. Prior to being based in Malaya and Singapore from the 1950s onwards, Chen often travelled between cities such as Shanghai, Paris, New York and Tokyo. In 1982, Chen was awarded the Cultural Medallion for her contributions to the visual arts in Singapore.
On 15 March 1993, Chen died of complications from rheumatoid arthritis after an 11-year struggle with the ailment.