Chen Chong Swee

Born in Guangdong Province, China, Chen Chong Swee (1910-1985) came to Singapore in 1931 shortly after graduating from Xinhua Academy of Art, Shanghai. He co-founded the Salon Art Society (now the Singapore Society of Chinese Artists) in 1935 and was a teacher with Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts for over 20 years. In 1952, Chen, together with fellow artists Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng and Liu Kang, went on what would eventually turn out be a historically significant trip to Bali, Indonesia in search of new inspiration and subject matter. As one of the first artists instrumental in developing the Nanyang Style, Chen pioneered attempts to interpret local landscapes according to the Chinese concept of pictorial composition with Western watercolour techniques.

The meticulous set-ups of tropical fruits and basket captured the vivid colours and rich textures of Malaya. Chong Swee was an avid cataloguer of tropical fruit through his time in Southeast Asia. He delighted in exploring their varied colours, forms, and textures. The main subject matter the bunch of ripe tropical bananas, suspended in the middle of the painting with a string is executed with a single brush stroke, portray the nostalgic sights of how the banana is typically hung in the kitchen.

The painting is a masterful display of traditional ink techniques, capturing the essence and texture of these fruits with remarkable precision and subtlety.

In this work, the basket is positioned slightly off-center, serving as a focal point that grounds the composition. The fruits are arranged around the basket in a seemingly casual yet deliberate manner, creating a natural flow that guides the viewer’s eye across the work. The bananas, with their gentle curves and graceful forms, are rendered with delicate, sweeping brushstrokes that highlight their smooth texture. The mangosteens, depicted with rich, dark purple tones, contrast strikingly against the strokes used for the bananas, emphasizing their roundness and the intricate details.

The overall composition is balanced and harmonious, reflecting the traditional Chinese aesthetic principles of unity and tranquility.