MALAYSIAN
1913 — 1981

Yeh Chi Wei is a Malaysian citizen who based his artistic practice in Singapore. Yeh is widely considered as one of the region’s first-generation artists, alongside pioneers Chen Wen Hsi, Liu Kang, and Cheong Soo Pieng. As the de facto leader of the Ten Men Group, Yeh led other artists on painting expeditions to countries in Southeast Asia as well as India. Those trips inspired Yeh to reduce his realistic tendencies, break down his forms into planes or blocks, and produce rich and striking compositions with a variety of lines and colours similar to Javanese batik. Ink rubbings, decorative patterns on ancient bronzes, stone carvings, and primitive aboriginals also influenced Yeh, and led him to develop the highly distinctive oil paintings characterized by an archaic simplicity focused on the essence of his subjects. A great source of inspiration to many younger artists, Yeh is one of the most influential mentors, teachers and innovators in Singapore art history.