Wee Beng Chong

By Wang, Zineng written on 2007-10-25
National Library Board Singapore

Wee Beng Chong (b. 22 November 1938, Singapore -), a renowned artist and sculptor, was the first recipient of the Cultural Medallion in 1979. One of the most versatile artists in Singapore, Wee was also active in art education and the profession. He served as head of the Fine Art Department in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) from 1982 to 1989, and is currently a senior lecturer there. In 1964, he co-founded the Modern Art Society in Singapore. He is also an advisor to many art societies in Singapore.

Education
Wee studied at NAFA from 1955 to 1958 and furthered his studies at the Lecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France from 1964 to 1969.

Accomplishments
As a versatile artist, Wee works with a range of art media ranging from modern sculpture to Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal engraving. Starting with solo exhibitions, he has participated in many exhibitions, both in Singapore and abroad. He exhibited his art works regularly in the 1960s, holding a total of eight solo exhibitions. His most recent solo exhibition of Chinese calligraphy and ink drawing was in 2003. In the early 1970s, he ventured into group exhibitions and to date he had participated in 20 of them. His works in all media are collected by various private collectors and institutions in Singapore and overseas. 

Wee has also accomplished much for the art movement. He co-founded several art associations including the Modern Art Society, and the Shi Cheng Calligraphy and Seal-Carving Society in Singapore. He has also acted as advisor to several art societies such as the Lanting Art Society, Singapore Sculpture Society and the Calligraphy Society.

For his outstanding contributions to art, Wee has received several awards, including the prestigious Cultural Medallion, from institutions both local and overseas.  

Solo Exhibitions
1961 : 1st One-Man Art Exhibition, Singapore.
1961 : An Art Exhibition of Paintings by Wee Beng Chong, The Singapore Art Society, Society of Chinese Artists & The Chee Chiang Association, Singapore.
1962 : 2nd One-Man Exhibition, Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Singapore.
1963 : 3rd One-Man Seal Carving, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition, Muar, Malaysia.
1965 : One-Man Oil Painting Exhibition, Berne, Switzerland.
1966 : One-Man Seal Carving, Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Exhibition, Paris, France.
1968 : 6th One-Man Art Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany.
1969 : 7th One-Man Art Exhibition, Singapore.
1970 : Wee Beng-Chong Retrospective Art Exhibition, Singapore.
2003 : Trajectories: The Oeuvre of Wee Beng-Chong, Singapore.

Group Exhibitions
1972 : ASEAN Art Exhibition, Singapore.
1984 : Singapore Art: A Decade 1974-1983, National Museum, Singapore.
1984 : 25 Years of Art in Singapore, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore.
1988 : NAFA Lecturers Art Exhibition 88, Singapore.
1989 : Contemporary Singapore Artists, Singapore Art Society, Singapore.
1994 : Pont des Arts: Nanyang Artists in Paris, 1925-1970, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore.
1994 : Modern Art Society 30th Anniversary Art Exhibition, Singapore.
1995 : The 10th Asian International Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore.
1995 : Singapore Art 95, Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Singapore.
1999 : Nokia Singapore Art 99, Singapore.
1999 : Singapore Art Society 50th Anniversary Exhibition, Singapore.
2000: The 15th Asian International Art Exhibition 2000, Tainan County Cultural Affairs Bureau, Taiwan.
2001 : The 16th Asian International Art Exhibition 2001 2002, Er-sha Island, Guangzhou, China.
2001 : Time and Space: 37th Anniversary Art Exhibition, Modern Art Society, Singapore.
2004 : Crossroads: Collective Works of Second Generation Artists, National University of Singapore (NUS) Museum, Singapore.
2005 : Style & Imagination: Art in the Nanyang Academy, Singapore.
2005 : The Society of Chinese Artists 70th Anniversary Commemorative Exhibition, Singapore.
2006 : The 21st Asian International Art Exhibition 2006, Singapore.
2006 : Highlights of Southeast Asia Collection, NUS Museum, Singapore.
2006 : Important Second-Generation Artists, DLR Gallery, Singapore.

Awards
1964 : International Prize for Modern Art, 17th Grand Prix Painting Art Exhibition, International De Peinture De Deauville, France.
1968 : Certificate of Appreciation, Singapore Festival 68 and the Mammoth Donation Draw, Singapore.
1974 : Pingat Apad, Angkatan Pelukis Aneka Daya, Singapore.
1974 : Certificate of Merit for distinguished service as artist and sculptor, subject of notice in volume no.1 of Dictionary of International Biography, China.
1978 : First Prize, Sculpture Open Competition, Public Utilities Board, Singapore.
1979 : Modern Art Creativity Award, Modern Art Society, Singapore.
1979 : Cultural Medallion Award, Singapore.
1981 : 2nd International Calligraphy Award, Singapore.
1990 : Modern Art Award, Modern Art Society, Singapore.
1993 : Academy Awards (Long Service) 1981-1993, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore.
1996 : Certificate of Appreciation, Asia Invitation Art Exhibition, Seoul, Korea.
1996 : Certificate of Honour, The World Famous Chinese Artists in Appreciation of Outstanding Professional Competence in Fine Arts, China.
1998 : Certificate of Honour, Outstanding Achievements to Chinese Culture, China.
2000 : Gold Medallion Award, Chen Jin Zhao Calligraphy, The Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore, Singapore.
2001 : Academy Awards (Long Service) 1981-2001, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore.



Author
Wang Zineng



References

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Goh, B. C. (1990, September 28). Wee giant in the arts. The Straits Times.  Retrieved October 26, 2007, from Factiva database.

Goh, B. C. (1993, February 19). Publicity-shy artist. The Straits Times. Retrieved October 26, 2007, from Factiva database.

Leong, W. K. (1996, December 16). Wee's new works get seal of approval. The Straits Times.  Retrieved October 26, 2007, from Factiva database.

Leong, W. K. (2006, August 17). A sanctuary for art. The Straits Times.  Retrieved October 26, 2007, from Factiva database.

Wong, T. (2002, March 29). Seals with a kiss. The Straits Times.  Retrieved October 26, 2007, from Factiva database.



The information in this article is valid as at 2008 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject.  Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic. 

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Artists>>Cultural Medallion Recipients
Arts>>Visual Arts>>Painting
Wee, Beng-Chong, 1938- --Biography
Award winners--Singapore--Biography
Painters--Singapore--Biography
Calligraphers--Singapore--Biography
Sculptors--Singapore--Biography
Arts>>Painting
Arts>>Sculpture
Arts>>Decorative arts>>Calligraphy

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