Grazing

Born in China, Chen Wen Hsi (1906- 1991) settled in Singapore in 1949 and taught at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in the 1950s. Chen was instrumental in the development of the Nanyang Style and is recognised as one of the pioneer artists of Singapore. Highly influential, Chen is regarded as the doyen of Singapore Chinese-brush artists. Although he painted mainly in Chinese brush, he often ventured into a cubistic style, executed in either oil or ink. An ardent student of nature, Chen is best known for his paintings of gibbons and animals developed from the Lingnan style. '�Grazing'� shows traces of Cubism in it, in terms of its composition and the geometric dissection used by Chen. The two black strips frame the painting to provide viewers a focal point on the cow at the centre. The presence of other cows on the canvas provides multiple focal points, describing the title of the work, �grazing�.