I am delighted to share the exquisite and realistic paintings by a well-known watercolour painter, Bai Tongxu (1937-2016), which I acquired many years ago. One of them, in various shades of yellow and green, features the water of a forest stream flowing over large rocks covered with moss and ferns. Looking at this painting makes one feel very calm and free of stress. Another picture shows an autumn scene. The contrast between rows of trees in vibrant colours of orange and red and the blue-purple hills behind have a charming and splendid effect. The plate of small fish he painted is the most realistic and vivid.
Bai Tongxu was a professional painter of the Hubei Academy of Fine Arts, a top-level artist, the President of the Hubei Watercolour Painting Research Association, Vice-President of the China Watercolour Artists Society, and former Chairman of the Watercolour Gouache Art Committee. In 2010, when the Hubei Watercolour Painting Academy was established, he became the first dean until his death. He won the Gold Award, Golden Horse Award, Excellent Works Award, the 8th National Art Exhibition, and the 2nd National Watercolour Pastel Exhibition Excellence Award. Many of his works were collected and displayed by the National Art Museum of China, the Foreign Art Exhibition Center of the Ministry of Culture, and the Jiangsu Art Museum.
Tan It Koon
Before retirement, Dr Tan It Koon was, among many appointments, Head of Clinical Biochemistry at SGH’s Dept of Pathology. He was the Deputy Chairman of the National Theatre Trust and Chairman for Grants and Scholarships of the Spore Cultural Foundation. He received the National Day Awards, PBM, and PPA, for his contribution to cultural and community development and excellence in Public Administration.
