Georgette Chen (1906–1993) plays a pivotal role in the development of modern art in Singapore, both as an artist and as a teacher. Chen was born in Zhejiang, China, and studied art at academies in Paris and New York. She has had solo shows and yearly salon exhibitions in Paris, Shanghai, New York, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur.
Local and global battles defined most of Chen’s life, including the Chinese Revolutions of 1911 and 1949, as well as World Wars I and II. Despite the upheavals, she remained committed to her work as an artist.
Chen moved to Malaya in the post-war period and settled in Singapore in 1953, where she created a name for herself as a painter and teacher. She was an important voice in the art community for almost three decades, working at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts as a mentor and supporter of other artists.

This exhibition spans two galleries, and starts with Chen’s time in Malaya and Singapore, where she painted her most emblematic works. Declaring Malaya “a paradise for the artist,” Chen revelled in the beauty and variety of the region. The second part of the exhibition explores Chen’s early years, her academic training, and the increasing recognition she gained as a professional artist exhibiting her work around the world. A rare opportunity to encounter the range of Chen’s practice over five decades and three continents, this exhibition critically re-examines her unique contributions to the artistic landscape of her time.

1906年出生於中國浙江。父親張靜江在巴黎經商，經營中國古董、絲綢、茶葉的貿易。張荔英先後在巴黎、紐約和上海接受教育。1930年，24歲的張荔英在巴黎與55歲的前武漢國民政府前外交部長陳友仁結婚。1941年，張與陳在香港被日軍拘捕並被押送至上海遭長期軟禁。陳友仁逝世後，張荔英直到二戰結束後才被釋放。1954年，張荔英定居新加坡，在新加坡南洋藝術學院任教。新加坡美術館收藏有她的147幅畫作。張荔英以靜物畫著稱，畫面中形體與布局深受塞尚的影響，而色調的應用則帶有少許梵谷的特色。

存世的張荔英《自畫像》，半昂起左側臉頰，仿佛神情睥睨，高貴又憂鬱。