Chua Mia Tee | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Born | Shantou, China | 25 November 1931
Nationality | Singaporean |
Spouse | Lee Boon Ngan |
Children | 1 son, 1 daughter |
Relatives | Lee Boon Yang (brother-in-law) Lee Boon Wang (brother-in-law) |
Residence | Singapore |
Alma mater | Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts |
Occupation | Painter |
Chinese name | |
Chinese | 蔡名智 |
Hanyu Pinyin | Cài Míngzhì |
Hokkien POJ | Chhòa Miâtì |
Chua Mia Tee (Chinese: 蔡名智; pinyin: Cài Míngzhì;[1] born 25 November 1931) is a Chinese-born Singaporean artist known for his social realist oil paintings capturing the social and political conditions of Singapore and Malaya in the 1950s and 60s.[2][3] Chua was involved in the Equator Art Society, an artist group founded in 1956 whose social realist works sought to instil a distinct Malayan consciousness by representing the realities and struggles of the masses.[4] For his contributions to the visual arts in Singapore, Chua was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2015.[3]
Chua is also known for his depictions of historic events and portrait paintings of prominent Singaporeans and political figures, such as the nation's presidents and ministers.[2] This includes, for instance, a sculpted bust of composer Zubir Said,[2] and Chua's 1998 portrait of Singapore's first president Yusof Ishak, which can be found reproduced on Singapore's currency notes.[2]
His work has been exhibited internationally in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Germany, Indonesia, New Zealand, and Thailand,[2] and his paintings are in the collection of the National Gallery Singapore, including his most notable work, National Language Class (1959).[5]