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.Mainly an oil painter, Liu discovered pastel during the Japanese Occupation (1942-45) when oil paints were hard to come by. He first used pastel for portraiture but later for other genres such as still life too. The depiction of objects of different textures demonstrates Liu’s confident handling of the medium.
