Visitors attend the exhibition of Singapore calligrapher Tan Siah Kwee on Jan. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
A total of 100 works of Tan's masterpieces will be showcased, which has attracted many calligraphy lovers.
SINGAPORE, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Renowned local calligrapher Tan Siah Kwee, who also serves as the President of the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore, held his fourth solo calligraphy exhibition here Saturday in Singapore.
The event was graced by Singapore's Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
In his speech, Tharman Shanmugaratnam praised Tan for being a patient teacher who also brings joy to his students.
Tan got involved in the calligraphy industry in 1969. As a calligraphy practitioner as well as a mentor, he founded the Singapore Calligraphy Center in 1995 and built the Singapore Senior Citizen Calligraphy University Center in 2005, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia.
A total of 100 works of Tan's masterpieces are showcased in batches at the Lee Kong Chian Hall of the Singapore Calligraphy Centre on Jan. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
Tharman Shanmugaratnam also noted that he was also impressed by Tan Siah Kwee's efforts in building a calligraphy community in Singapore by initiating the Chinses Calligraphy Society of Singapore, the Singapore Calligraphy Center as well as the Singapore Cultural Studies Society, thus preserving the integrity and beauty of the Chinese culture in the multi-cultural society of Singapore.
The senior minister also expressed his appreciation for Tan's continuous journey towards excellence as each one of his four solo exhibitions is a transition towards the next stage of excellence.
A total of 100 works of Tan's masterpieces will be showcased in batches at the Lee Kong Chian Hall of the Singapore Calligraphy Centre this time. The show, which will run until 22 this month, has attracted many calligraphy lovers and viewers to attend the opening ceremony.
A total of 100 works of Tan's masterpieces are showcased in batches at the Lee Kong Chian Hall of the Singapore Calligraphy Centre on Jan. 11, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)
The show is jointly presented by the Singapore Cultural Studies Society and the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore.
To mark this exhibition, 4,000 copies of Tan's calligraphy work collection have been published.
The previous three of Tan's solo calligraphy exhibitions were held in 1979, 1987 and 2010 respectively.
Tan's arduous work in the calligraphy field has won him fame both at home and abroad. He has received numerous awards from the Singapore government and various organisations both locally and from countries including Japan, France and Germany.
He was awarded the Singapore Youth Award in 1978, the Public Service Medal (Art) in 1991 and the Singapore Cultural Medallion in 2000. He also won the "2014 Brilliance of China: Chinese Culture Promoter of the Year Award" in 2014. ■
