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 placed great emphasis on drawing as the foundation of art and had a lifelong practice of sketching. His sketches, often executed in free flowing lines with little shading, are a way for him to explore pictorial composition as well as to record details and explore ideas.
