Fan Shao Hua | The Mission Begins

Courtesy of the artist and Ode to Art

With a strong academic foundation in Western realism and Chinese ink painting techniques, Fan Shao Hua's works offer a compelling blend of traditional and contemporary elements. His Southeast Asian landscapes, portraits and scenes of daily life vividly depict the intricacies of human nature and the beauty of the world around us. Fan’s artistic evolution is marked by a constant pursuit of innovation and meaning. His lotus paintings are charged with calligraphic gestures, while his portraits and street screens articulate the liveliness of his subject.

The work is a vivid charcoal drawing based on an archival photo taken on 2 April 1955. It shows People’s Action Party (PAP) Secretary-General Lee Kuan Yew being held aloft in a chair by his supporters during Singapore’s first election under the Rendel Constitution. The event marked a significant step towards self-governance and democratic representation, which is alluded to in the title《使命己啟》, which translates to mean “the mission has started” in Chinese.

With a distinguished career that spans decades, Fan has had major solo exhibitions at institutions such as National Art Museum of China (2010), Shanghai Art Museum (2010), Singapore Art Museum (2007) and Guangdong Museum of Art (2007).