Back from Shanghai (17th to 30th May, 2011)

Painting expedition to Shanghai, Suzhuo country-side, with Mr. Chen Hui. It was homestay in a plantation specialising in producing organic "PI-PA" (枇杷). Captured six paintings. Weather conditions were wet and dry with temperature going up to 36C.

To Miao-Li of Taiwan

15th-28th Feb 2011

By courtesy of Miao-Li City County with a large group of Singaporean artists. Cultural Exchange program.

To Wu-han & Kuala Lumpur

8th -14th October 2010

By the courtesy of Mr. Chen Hui & Mr. Tan Yok Khoon.

Sight seeing & visiting the Wu-han Museum. Shortly after returning from Wu-han, visited Kuala Lumpur for 3 days to attend an exhibition.

Visited Swatow 23rd June to 13th July 2010

Second visits in a year to Swatow. Came back with very interesting scenes. The mood and colours were hearty. Brighter than usual due to the very hot weather of 36C.

Back to Swatou 23-3-2010 to 6-4-2010

Visiting hometown by courtesy of Mr. Ho Kung Shang. Meeting Mr Nai Lui Leng, Mr. Goh Beng Kuan and move on from there. Came back with some very rustic scenes.

Visited Burma February 2010

Painted Burmese scenes. Communications with the outside world was completely cut off by the Administration once on Burmese soil. Came back with some wonderful work. Went with Mr. Goh Beng Kuan and partner.

Indomitable Spirit of Tan Choh Tee by Usha M Nathan

Found this article :

I had the opportunity to meet this humble and highly acclaimed artist at a group show amongst his peers more than six months ago. During our discussion of his artworks, I discovered the vivid sensory experiences that stirred the creation of each of his paintings. And I could see how the creations depicted particular perceptions of colour and form formed by sensory intervention– rich, humane, individual.
Tan Choh Tee has created prolifically during his artistic practice that spans close to four decades. Practising as a full-time artist since 1976, he has done study tours in various parts of the world, including the famed Dun-Huang caves. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 2006. Tan Choh Tee’s works range from many varied landscapes from across the world and include still life studies that have the same meticulous engagement as the former. These include the familiar scenes of the Singapore River, Chinatown, and span his extensive travels to places such as Bali, Nepal, Paris, and his birthplace Swatou. Each creation offers vistas for visual experience; often touching on the certain elusive quality that fellow artist Choy Weng Yang calls the “spirit of his (the artist’s) environment.”
The artist paints plein air, often reflecting on the atmosphere and his distinct experience of the place. Colour is key to his compositions, which reflect a captivation with atmospheric light. The brushwork is agile and resonates with the mood of the place. The juxtaposition of forms reveals the creative synergies of Chinese ink, Western oil techniques and artistic innovation that the artist brings to his practice. Each composition hence emerges with a singularity, clarity of vision, and recreates for the viewer the allure of the locale with all of its nostalgia. The overall abundance of the artist’s oeuvre stands as a testament to his commitment to art, and it is easy to see why he is a revered artist not only in Singapore but elsewhere, too.

Written by Usha M. Nathan
Published by Singapore Art Gallery Guide Jun/July 2008