Visual Arts Specialist Panel Citation Recognised as one of Singapore’s important practitioners of Chinese ink painting, Nai Swee Leng plays a vital role in the development of ⱗ䠑 (xieyi: freehand) ink painting. A key student of pioneer artist Fan Chang Tien, Swee Leng has ensured the transmission of the Shanghai School to younger artists through his practice and educational outreach. His dexterity is evident in his translation of real-life observations into evocative works through an expressive xieyi style, emphasising the spontaneity of free-flowing lines through a brushwork distinguishable from that of the mainland Chinese
artists of the xieyi movement. Feted for lively depictions of flora and fauna, and a signature style blending old and new, he has breathed new life into the form and inspired new artists. Swee Leng’s excellence is celebrated locally and internationally: He was inducted into the prestigious Xiling Seal Art Society in Hangzhou in 1995, and conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Siaw-Tao Chinese Seal Carving, Calligraphy & Painting Society in 2005. His achievements reflect the enduring influence of Chinese ink painting on Singapore’s cultural identity and artistic heritage.