For the first time ever, the National Gallery is hosting the largest solo exhibition dedicated to the prolific Chinese ink artist He Xiangning in Singapore. The exhibition presents over 50 of He’s works, including paintings, calligraphy, poetry and other archival materials that provide an extensive deep dive into her creative world.
More than just an artist, He was also recognised as a political figure and feminist activist. Born in Hong Kong in 1879, she was one of the first Chinese women to study art in Japan, which made her part of the Lingnan school. Her work often draws on motifs such as lions, pine trees, and wintry landscapes to express resilience, solidarity, and moral conviction during a revolutionary movement in modern China. The exhibition is divided into four sections that chart the evolution of her practice alongside the history intertwined with it.
Ink and Intent also examines He’s enduring influence on Chinese modern art and her connections to Southeast Asia, especially in Singapore and Penang.
