Born in Fujian Province, Liu Kang (1911-2004) received his formal training in Shanghai Academy of Fine Art, where he was exposed to Chinese paintings. In 1928, he went to Paris where he was influenced by art movements such as Fauvism and Post-Impressionism. Not only was he one of Singapore’s pioneer artists, he was also a leading figure in the Society of Chinese Artists and the Singapore Art Society. In 1970, he was awarded the Public Service Star for his contributions in the field of art.Liu made several trips to Huangshan in Anhui, China, a mountain range famous for its scenic views and popular with countless Chinese artists and poets. Huangshan is a recurring subject for Liu and this piece, completed in 1936, is one of the earlier ones in the SAM collection; there are several other pieces which are executed in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
