Xiang Yongchang has loved calligraphy and painting since he was young and would practice on his own during his free time. At 20, he began studying floral painting, and in 1964, upon the recommendation of his teacher, Zhang Bihan, he became a student of Peng Ximing, specializing in landscape painting.
Beginning his studies in 1964, Xiang left Hong Kong for Singapore in 1971 for work. After moving from Hong Kong, he was introduced by Professor Jao Tsung-I to two Singaporean art collectors (Xiang Xue Zhuang and Xiu Hai Lou). Through multiple visits to view their extensive collections of masterpieces, Xiang gained invaluable insights. He began participating in art exhibitions in 1966 and, in 1993, went to Suzhou for business investment, where he connected with veterans in the calligraphy and painting community, fostering friendships through art. Starting in 1997, he held solo exhibitions in Suzhou, Hangzhou, Shaoxing, and Shangyu.
Xiang Yongchang’s works are now part of collections at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Nanyang University Museum in Singapore, as well as private collections in the UK, US, and Germany.
This retrospective exhibition, celebrating his achievements over the past decades, warmly invites everyone to come and appreciate his work. He hopes that fellow calligraphy and painting enthusiasts can exchange insights and offer each other guidance.
Xiang Yongchang (also known as Yu Yinglong) is also referred to as Wu Tie Xiu. He is the owner of Wei Shi Garden and a descendant of Tian Lai Ge. He operates his study from Wu Shi Cao Tang and Lan Ting Zhai. Born in 1937 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, he moved to Hong Kong in 1951 for his studies and graduated from the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Hong Kong Polytechnic.
Due to his childhood passion for calligraphy and painting, he enrolled in the Art Department of New Asia College and attended the Western Painting class at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, where he studied landscapes, figures, and floral painting under teachers such as Zhang Bihan, Xiao Lisheng, and Zhou Shixin. He later specialized in landscape painting under the renowned artist Peng Qiuling, focusing primarily on the Four Masters of the Ming Dynasty.
With over thirty years of study, he traces his influences back to the Northern Song dynasty artists Jing, Guan, Dong, and Ju. In 1971, he settled in Singapore, where he has held numerous solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions in Singapore and Malaysia.
His works are collected in various countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Japan, and Hong Kong. He is currently a permanent member of both the Singapore Art Association and the Chinese Fine Arts Research Society.
Dates:
6-11 December 2024
Time:
11am-7pm
Venue:
Visual Arts Centre
10 Penang Rd, #01-02, Dhoby Ghaut Green, Singapore 238469)
Entry:
Free for all
Visual Arts Centre is an exhibition gallery and art studio at Dhoby Ghaut Green supported by the National Parks Board and the National Arts Council.
Since its initiation on 31 January 2016, the Visual Arts Centre Exhibition Gallery has hosted over two hundred international and local art and design exhibitions, boasting a diverse range of art styles and programmes.
Email:
info@visualartscentre.sg
Phone:
+65 6255 0711
+65 6733 2155
In the Batik Introduction Handkerchief Painting workshop, participants will learn the traditional art of batik, a wax-resist dyeing technique originating from Indonesia. The workshop begins with a brief history and overview of batik, highlighting its cultural significance and various techniques. Participants will then observe a demonstration of applying wax with tjanting tools and dyeing the fabric. Following the demonstration, each participant will design and create their own batik handkerchief, applying wax to create patterns and then dyeing their fabric. The workshop concludes with a group discussion, allowing participants to share their creations and reflect on their learning experience.
