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.In the 1980s, Liu made several trips to Huangshan in Anhui, China, a mountain range famous for its scenic views and a source of inspiration for countless Chinese poets and artists. Liu had also travelled there with his teacher, Liu Haisu. Compared to an earlier painting of Huangshan in the SAM collection, the paint in this work is vigorously handled and thickly applied.
