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’s landscape paintings are not only depictions of idyllic scenes but also of the harsh realities of life. Fires were common occurrences in the past, and here Liu depicts the aftermath of a devastating fire and people looking for things they could salvage. In the SAM collection is another painting ‘After the Fire II’, completed a year later.
