Presented in Singapore for the very first time, this is the largest travelling exhibition of artist He Xiangning’s (何香凝) (b. 1878, China; d. 1972, China) artworks from the He Xiangning Art Museum (Shenzhen, China).

A leading ink artist and a prominent political figure, He Xiangning played an important role in the development of modern China. One of the earliest Chinese women to pursue art studies in Japan, she was closely connected to the Lingnan school. Works such as Lion (1914), along with her notable fundraising art exhibitions in Singapore and Manila in 1929, demonstrate how she fused political and social ideals through her art. 

Featuring over 50 ink works and extensive archival materials, the exhibition reconnects He Xiangning's artistic activities and significance to Chinese modern art, Singapore, Penang and the region’s art history. 

From powerful depictions of lions to evocative landscapes, this exhibition brings together paintings, calligraphy, poetry, and archival materials to explore He Xiangning’s artistic world.

Across her works, recurring motifs such as lions, pine trees, and winter scenes reflect ideas of resilience, solidarity, and moral conviction shaped by a rapidly changing era. Archival materials also offer a glimpse into her wide artistic and social networks across China and Southeast Asia.

Organised into four chronological sections, the exhibition follows the evolution of her art and the historical moments that defined it. Come discover a practice shaped as much by conviction as by craft.

For more information, please visit the National Museum of Singapore website.

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