Nanyang art style: What it is and where to find outstanding examples in Singapore

The term “Nanyang” literally translates to “South Ocean” and was then used by Chinese maritime traders to describe the Southeast Asian region. Some of the Chinese migrants that arrived on the shores of modern-day Malaysia and Singapore in the 1920s and 1930s were young artists and writers in search of their artistic voice. They hoped to infuse their new surroundings and reflect on the notion of identity in their works. 

The term “Nanyang” became a symbol of this aspiration, first among writers and then among visual artists. However, the official term “Nanyang art style” was only properly established as an art movement in 1979 by art historians, T.K. Sabapathy and Redza Piyadasa, who organised a survey exhibition of Nanyang art at the Muzium Seni Negara Malaysia.

The next milestone in the history of Nanyang art came with the founding of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 1938 by pioneering artist, Lim Hak Tai. The academy played a crucial role in advocating art that had a sense of localness to it. The pioneering Nanyang artists, namely Liu Kang, Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi, Chen Chong Swee, and Georgette Chen, were all associated with the academy in one way or another.

Any conversation about Nanyang art is incomplete without the mention of the famous trip to Bali in 1952 that had a transformational effect on the art of the participating artists – Liu Kang, Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Wen Hsi, and Chen Chong Swee. Their works were exhibited a year later and the exhibition marked the beginning of a new, more fluid path for the movement. 

The Nanyang art style was a unique blend of different art forms, amalgamating the fluidity of Chinese ink painting and motifs of batik with Western artistic styles, like post-Impressionism and Cubism. At its core, the Nanyang art style sought to express the artists' deep connection to the region and their desire to create a distinct Southeast Asian identity. The artists drew inspiration from the lush tropical environment, the diverse communities, and the fusion of traditions in the Nanyang region. Until the 1970s, the Nanyang art movement showcased an organic development of art with the artists not adhering to any one particular medium, style, or subject matter. The goal was always to represent their impressions of the landscape and culture surrounding them.

The Nanyang artists played a crucial role in shaping the modern art scene in Singapore and Malaysia. The movement encouraged second and third generation artists to break away from traditional Chinese art conventions and embrace a more experimental and expressive approach. The movement’s rich legacy can be seen in the works of contemporary artists who carry forward the spirit of the movement, incorporating new mediums and perspectives. The Nanyang art style remains a powerful representation of the region's cultural heritage and an enduring symbol of artistic innovation and creativity in Southeast Asia.