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 believed that life drawing is the most challenging art practice as the ever-changing variables sharpen an artist’s observation skills, and aid his understanding of composition and forms of lines. Throughout his long artistic career, Liu made countless drawings of the human figure, even in the late 1990s.
