Chen Shi Jin 陈士仅

Chen Shi Jin, born in Singapore in 1959, is a local ink painter. Chen graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) with a major in oil painting. He was the first NAFA alumnus to study at the China Academy of Art, where he specialized in Chinese figure painting. He subsequently taught ink painting part-time at NAFA for 21 years.

Chen’s artistic subjects differ from the landscapes and flower-and-bird motifs commonly depicted in traditional ink painting. His works focus on indigenous Southeast Asian landscapes and tropical subjects, using traditional ink techniques to portray the regional way of life, exuding a natural and unpretentious Nanyang atmosphere.

Furthermore, he places great emphasis on sketching from life and insists on drawing inspiration directly from daily life. As a result, he travels to various locations every year to sketch on-site. He has traveled to Bali, Indonesia; Angkor Wat, Cambodia; Nepal; Malaysia; India; and China.

Chen has received numerous awards, including the ASEAN Study Tour Award at the 1985 National Art Competition and the 1996 UOB “Painting of the Year” Award for his ink painting Roots. His works are part of the collections at the National Museum of Singapore and UOB. He is also actively involved in charitable activities and has raised funds for the Singapore General Hospital.

In 2026, Mr. Chen opened his own studio at Bras Basah Complex, where he plans to regularly showcase different series of works through thematic exhibitions, inviting people from all walks of life to appreciate the beauty of traditional ink painting.

陈士仅，1959年出生于新加坡，是本地水墨画家。陈氏毕业南洋艺术学院（NAFA）主修油画，是该校首位负笈中国美术学院并专攻中国人物画的校友，之后在南洋艺术学院兼职教水墨画21载。

陈氏创作题材与传统水墨画常描绘的山水、花鸟有所不同，他的作品聚焦东南亚本土景观与热带事物，以传统水墨技法表现本区域的生活风貌， 透出自然朴实的南洋气息。

另外他非常重视写生，坚持直接从生活中取材，因此每年他都会前往各地实地写生。他曾在印度尼西亚巴厘岛、柬埔寨吴哥窟、尼泊尔、马来西亚、印度及中国等地留下足迹。

陈氏也曾多次获奖，其中包括1985年全国美术比赛亚细安考察奖，以及1996年大华银行“年度绘画奖”，获奖作品为水墨画《根》。其作品被新加坡国家博物馆及大华银行收藏。他也积极参与慈善活动，曾为仁慈医院筹款。

2026年，陈氏在百胜楼（Bras Basah Complex）开设个人画室，计划以专题展览的方式，定期展示不同系列的作品，供各界人士一同欣赏传统水墨之美。

Biography

Background

1959 Born in singapore

1976 Student of the Chinese Brush Painter, Master Nai Swee Leng

1985 Graduated from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) studying Oil Painting.

1985 Studied Chinese Brush Painting at Chinese Academy of Fine Arts in China, under sponsorship from the Singapore Cultural foundation

Awards

  • 1996: Root" won the Painting of the Year Award at the 15th United Overseas Bank (UOB) Painting of the Year Competition.

  • 1985: "Palm Tree and Minah" won the Ministry of Culture's Overseas Educational Tours Award.

  • 1985: "Morning Melody" won the Distinction Award in the UOB Painting of the Year Competition.

  • 1984: "Road" won the Best Oil Painting Award at the N.A.F.A. Speech Day Exhibition.

  • 1982: "Blossom" won the Best Work Award at the Outram Park Arts Club National Day Art Competition.

  • 1984, 1989, 1991-1995: Certificate of Commendation at the UOB Painting of the Year Competition, Oriental Art section.

  • 1988, 1990: Certificate of Commendation at the IBM Art Exhibition.

Solo & Joint Exhibitions

  • 1988 and 1997: Joint exhibition with wife, Kong Yin Ling, in Singapore.

  • 1990: Joint exhibition with wife, Kong Yin Ling in Johore, Malaysia.

  • 1995: Joining three other artists in the Chinese Cultural Art Exhibition at the Hamburgisches Art Museum, Germany.

  • 1997: The 15th Painting of the Year Award Solo Exhibition, "Scent of the Land - Chen Shi Jin and his Art". at UOB Plaza. Singapore.

  • 1997: The 15th Painting of the Year Award Solo Exhibition, "Scent of the Land - Chen Shi Jin and his Art" , at UOB Plaza, Singapore.

  • 1999: Solo Charity Exhibition for the Ren Ci Hospital, "Songs of the Village - Chen Shi Jin and his Art" ', Singapore.

  • 2000: Joint exhibition with wife, Kong Yin Ling, at the Cite des Arts, Paris, France.

  • 2005: Solo exhibition, "Chinese Ink in the Tropics - Chen Shi Jin and his Art" at the MICA building, Singapore.

Activities

  • 2004: Participated in Singapore's National Day Art Exhibition 

  • 1980 - 2004: Participated in the Molan Society Art Exhibition.

  • 1982 - 2004: Participated in the Singapore Art Society Art Exhibition.

  • 1982: As an officer of the Singapore Art Society, helped organise a members tour of China, which included visits to various Chinese artist groups, and viewing live demon strations by masters Chen Shifa and Huang Zhou. The tour firmed Mr Chen's decision to study art in China.

  • 1984 - 1992: Taught Chinese Brush and Finger Painting at various community centers (C.C.).

  • 1984: Invited to demonstrate Chinese Brush and Finger Painting at the 25th National Day Exhibition, organised by the Singapore Ministry of Culture.

  • 1984: Interviewed on a radio programme for a special feature on Finger Painting.

  • 1989 - 2004: Participated in the N.A.F.A. Faculty Exhibition, in Singapore and overseas.

  • 1989: Participated in the Outram Park Art Club Teachers Exhibition.

  • 1990: Work published in the Chinese art magazine, Painter (volume 12), in a special feature on overseas Chinese artists.

  • 1992: Interviewed for a special feature in "The Citizen", titled "The Art of Finger Painting".

  • 1992: Invited to take part in the Zhejiang Art Society Chinese Brush Painting Exhibition, in Hangzhou, China.

  • 1993: Invited to take part in the "Ink Paintings in Singapore" exhibition organised by the Singapore National Museum.

  • 1979 - 1993: Participated in the charity exhibitions organised by the Singapore Lion Club, the N.A.F.A. Foundation, Teck Ghee C.C., Thomson C.C., and Yong Peng Secondary School in Johore, Malaysia.

  • 1997: "Chen Shi Jin and His Art" was selected to join the collection on Asian arts at the City Library of Paris, France.

  • 1998: Took part in N.A.F.A. 's 60th Anniversary Alumni Art Exhibition.

  • 1999: Invited to be one of the judges in a Chinese Ink Painting Evaluation jointly organised by N.A.F.A. and the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts.

  • 2000: Spent part of the year in Paris, France, for cultural and artistic exchanges.

  • 2003: Invited to lecture at the Malaysian Chinese Ink Paintings Camp, on the skills of nature sketches used in Chinese Brush Painting.

  • 2003: Invited to join an art exhibition at Paragon building, Singapore, titled "Eleven Celebrated Artists - A Joint Show".

Publications

  • 1994: "Chen Shi Jin and His Art".

  • 1997: "Scent of the Land", a collection of sketches.

  • 1999: "Songs of the Village", a collection of flowers, birds, and landscape sketches.

  • 2005: "Colour of the Earth".

  • 2005: "Chinese Ink in the Tropics".

  • 2004: Participated in Singapore's National Day Art Exhibition 

  • 1980 - 2004: Participated in the Molan Society Art Exhibition.

  • 1982 - 2004: Participated in the Singapore Art Society Art Exhibition.

  • 1982: As an officer of the Singapore Art Society, helped organise a members tour of China, which included visits to various Chinese artist groups, and viewing live demon strations by masters Chen Shifa and Huang Zhou. The tour firmed Mr Chen's decision to study art in China.

  • 1984 - 1992: Taught Chinese Brush and Finger Painting at various community centers (C.C.).

  • 1984: Invited to demonstrate Chinese Brush and Finger Painting at the 25th National Day Exhibition, organised by the Singapore Ministry of Culture.

  • 1984: Interviewed on a radio programme for a special feature on Finger Painting.

  • 1989 - 2004: Participated in the N.A.F.A. Faculty Exhibition, in Singapore and overseas.

  • 1989: Participated in the Outram Park Art Club Teachers Exhibition.

  • 1990: Work published in the Chinese art magazine, Painter (volume 12), in a special feature on overseas Chinese artists.

  • 1992: Interviewed for a special feature in "The Citizen", titled "The Art of Finger Painting".

  • 1992: Invited to take part in the Zhejiang Art Society Chinese Brush Painting Exhibition, in Hangzhou, China.

  • 1993: Invited to take part in the "Ink Paintings in Singapore" exhibition organised by the Singapore National Museum.

  • 1979 - 1993: Participated in the charity exhibitions organised by the Singapore Lion Club, the N.A.F.A. Foundation, Teck Ghee C.C., Thomson C.C., and Yong Peng Secondary School in Johore, Malaysia.

  • 1997: "Chen Shi Jin and His Art" was selected to join the collection on Asian arts at the City Library of Paris, France.

  • 1998: Took part in N.A.F.A. 's 60th Anniversary Alumni Art Exhibition.

  • 1999: Invited to be one of the judges in a Chinese Ink Painting Evaluation jointly organised by N.A.F.A. and the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts.

  • 2000: Spent part of the year in Paris, France, for cultural and artistic exchanges.

  • 2003: Invited to lecture at the Malaysian Chinese Ink Paintings Camp, on the skills of nature sketches used in Chinese Brush Painting.

  • 2003: Invited to join an art exhibition at Paragon building, Singapore, titled "Eleven Celebrated Artists - A Joint Show".

Publications

  • 1994: "Chen Shi Jin and His Art".

  • 1997: "Scent of the Land", a collection of sketches.

  • 1999: "Songs of the Village", a collection of flowers, birds, and landscape sketches.

  • 2005: "Colour of the Earth".

  • 2005: "Chinese Ink in the Tropics".

奖项

  1. 1996年《根》获大华银行举办全国绘画比赛全场最佳画作奖。

  2. 1985年《棕润八哥》获文化部主办国庆美展东方绘画组亚细安考察奖。

  3. 1985年《晨曲》获大华银行举办全国绘画比赛东方艺术组优秀奖。

  4. 1984年《路》获南洋艺术学院油画组优秀奖。

  5. 1982年《紫薇》获欧南园美术会举办全国绘画比赛东方绘画组优秀奖。

  6. 1984，1989，1991，1992， 1993， 1994，1995年作品获大华银行举办全国绘画比赛东方艺术组佳作奖。

  7. 1988 及1990年作品获IBM 美展佳作奖。

个展与主要联展

  1. 1988, 1997年与妻江燕玲于新加坡举办联合画展。

  2. 1990年与妻江燕玲于马来西亚柔佛州举办二人联展。

  3. 1992年于新加坡国家博物院画廊举办个人画展。

  4. 1995年于德国汉堡美术博物馆举行中华文化艺术四人联展。

  5. 1997年由大华银行主办第十五届全国最佳画作得奖者陈士仅之《风土》个人画展。

  6. 1999年为仁慈医院筹款举办《乡曲》陈士仅水墨画义展。

  7. 2000年于法国巴黎国际艺术城与妻江燕玲举办联合画展。

  8. 2005年陈士仅《热带彩墨》画展于新加坡新闻与艺术部大厦。

美术活动

  1. 1979年起参与文化部主办历届国庆美展。

  2. 1980年起参与历届墨澜社常年美展。

  3. 1982 年起参与历届艺术协会常年美展。

  4. 1982 年随新加坡艺术协会访问中国各地画院及艺术学院、为团副总务。随团与中国各省画家现场作画交流，同时观赏程十发，黄胄等大师现场挥毫。并决定在南洋艺术学院毕业后赴中国留学。

  5. 1984年至1992年任人民协会属下联络所水墨画及指墨导师。

  6. 1984 年受邀示范彩墨及指墨艺术于建国廿五周年美展。

  7. 1984 年应广播电台专访，谈指墨艺术。

  8. 1989年起参与南洋艺术学院于新加坡及海外举办的教师美展。

  9. 1989年参与欧南园美术学会教师美展。

  10. 1990年作品刊登于中国期刊《画家》（第12期）之海外华人艺术家作品专辑。

  11. 1992年《民众报》专访——“指尖上的艺术”。

  12. 1992年受邀参加杭州中国浙江花鸟画研究会之年展。

  13. 1993年受邀参加新加坡文化部主办的《墨涛》——看新加坡水墨画的发展。

  14. 1979 至1993年作品参加新加坡狮子会慈善义展，南洋艺术学院基金义展、德义、汤申民众联络所建所基金义展及马来西亚永平中学活动基金义展。

  15. 1997年法国巴黎城市文化部收录陈士仅作品集于城市图书馆，亚洲文化资料室。

  16. 1998年参加南洋艺术学院60周年纪念校友会美展。

  17. 1999年任南洋艺术学院与中国美术学院联办水墨画分级考试评审委员。

  18. 2000年于法国巴黎进行艺术交流。

  19. 2003年受邀讲课于马来西亚全国水墨画营，讲题为“水墨画的写生技巧”。

  20. 2003年受邀参与十一名家联展于新加坡百利宫。

出版

  1. 1994年《陈士仅画集》。

  2. 1997年《风土》写生集。

  3. 1999年《乡曲》花岛与风景写生集。

  4. 2005年《陈士仅写生画集》。

  5. 2005年《陈士仅热带彩墨画写生集》。