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.The historic Bali trip undertaken by Liu and his fellow artists in 1952 was a significant milestone in the development of the Nanyang style. The life and culture of the islanders inspired Liu and as this portrait of a Balinese girl shows, the island continued to fascinate him even in the late 1980s.
