Xu Beihong (1895-1953) is regarded as one of the most seminal figures in the history of modern Chinese painting. Apart from his larger than life persona and dramatic life story spanning continents and wars, he was one of the first to articulate the need for artistic expressions that reflected a new modern China at the beginning of the 20th century. As one of the earliest Chinese artists to be trained in Europe, he was instrumental in promoting the
use of scientific realism and. the direct study of nature to rejuvenate ink painting.

Jointly organised by Singapore Art Museum and Xu Beihong Museum, this exhibition features about 90 works, selected from both public and private collections from around the world. It serves as an unprecedented opportunity to examine many of Xu's most important works completed in Southeast Asia and India, a number of which have never been publicly exhibited before.