Born in China in 1915 (d. 1996, Singapore), Hou Hsi Ching migrated to Singapore in 1948. A self-taught artist in traditional Chinese brush painting and calligraphy, Hou was awarded the Special Award, National Day Art Exhibition (1971) and the Dr Tan Tze Chor Art Award (1991).In a 1983 Singapore POST feature article, Hou was referred to as ‘The orchid painter’. In his never-ending quest to identify local subject matter, he would paint en plein air with fellow artists Tan Choh Tee and Lim Tze Peng; frequenting the Botanic Gardens and Mandai Gardens to paint his favourite orchids. Hou’s orchid paintings draw on the principles of ‘xieyi’ (freehand). Hou sought to define his form of expression and painting style with simplicity and elegance; reflecting the essence of subject, stroke and spirit in his harmonious compositions.
