Chen Shi Jin - Of Flora and Fauna 《花鸟虫鱼》

Sep 9

Of Flora and Fauna is a solo exhibition of Chinese ink paintings by Singaporean artist Chen Shi Jin, bringing the classical bird-and-flower tradition into the living world of the tropics.

Singapore, 9 September 2026 — Chen Shi Jin Gallery is pleased to present Of Flora and Fauna 《花鸟虫鱼》, a collection of bird-and-flower paintings drawn from life. Familiar yet unexpected, the works find their subjects not in the classical canon but in the plants, fruit and creatures of everyday Southeast Asia.

Bird-and-flower painting has long been one of the major genres of Chinese art. For centuries, its vocabulary centred on the “Four Gentlemen”: plum blossom, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, each carrying a set of moral and poetic meanings. Chen has chosen a different path. Rather than repeating these established motifs, he turns his brush towards the vibrant tropical life around him.

The result is a genre made new. Roses, rambutans, coconuts, orchids and hibiscus share the paper with squirrels, sparrows, waterhens and mynas. Fish, crabs and seafood appear alongside butterflies, caterpillars and bees. These are subjects that rarely appear in traditional Chinese painting, yet they are part of daily life in Singapore and the region: in gardens, at the market, along the roadside.

Like much of Chen’s practice, these works began as on-site sketches. Painting directly from his subjects, he recorded not only their forms but their movement and energy, and each work carries a fresh sense of vitality. A bird is caught mid-turn; fruit hangs heavy on the branch; insects hover at the edge of a flower.

In their artistic treatment, the paintings balance the real and the suggested. Some forms are rendered with care, while others are left as a few loose strokes or as untouched paper, so that the eye is drawn to what matters most. The compositions are carefully considered, and the brushwork and colour work in harmony: the discipline of ink line set against the warmth and saturation of tropical colour.

For viewers new to Chinese painting, the appeal is immediate. Many of these subjects feel instantly familiar: a myna on a fence, a bunch of rambutans, a crab fresh from the market. For seasoned viewers, there is the pleasure of seeing a centuries-old genre adapted, with ease and humour, to a new climate. That sense of recognition and warmth is the particular charm of Of Flora and Fauna.

Across the exhibition, Chen’s paintings suggest that tradition is not something to be preserved unchanged, but something that grows when it meets new ground. Here, the bird-and-flower painting finds a home in the tropics.

Of Flora and Fauna 花鸟虫鱼 was on view at Chen Shi Jin Gallery, Bras Basah Complex. Selected works remain available. Please contact the gallery to arrange a viewing.

About the Artist

Chen Shi Jin (b. 1959, Singapore) is a Singaporean Chinese ink artist and educator whose career spans more than four decades. A graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), he was the first Singaporean to pursue studies at the prestigious China Academy of Art in Hangzhou, China. Chen taught Chinese painting at NAFA for 21 years and has played an important role in nurturing generations of artists in Singapore.

Known for his portrayals of tropical environments in traditional ink, Chen draws inspiration from his travels across Southeast Asia and China, capturing the spirit of local landscapes, cultures, and everyday life through a distinctive blend of traditional Chinese brushwork and contemporary sensibilities. In 1996, he won the UOB Painting of the Year Award for his acclaimed work Root. His works have been exhibited internationally and are held in various public and private collections.

Exhibition Period

Date: 9 September - 10 October 2026
Time: 12 – 6.30pm (Tues - Sun)
Venue: Chen Shi Jin Gallery, Bras Basah Complex, #02-25, Singapore 180231

Contact Information

Email: chenshijingallery@gmail.com

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