Google today memorialized a Singaporean artist and foundational figure in the city’s art scene.
Georgette Chen, who is known for evocative oil paintings that combine both Asian and Western styles, was featured in today’s local Google Doodle, which features the artist seated before a canvas, surrounded by still life subjects.
It has been close to a century since her works were first showcased at the Salon d’Automne, one of Paris’ most prestigious annual art exhibitions.
“Today’s Google Doodle honors Singaporean artist Georgette Chen, a founder of the post-Impressionist Nanyang painting style, on the 91st anniversary of her first exhibition at the Salon d’Automne in Paris,” Google wrote online. “Thank you for your contributions to the global art scene in the face of an ever-changing world, Georgette Chen!”
Chen’s Nanyang art style was attributed to her travels to China and New York.
The doodle shows the artist with a basket of rambutan, an easel, a dried chili plant, a bitter melon, and a teapot.
Her notable works, which involve refined brushwork and a “dreamlike quality,” include the Mosque in Kuala Lumpur (1957) and Singapore Waterfront (1958), both of which have been exhibited worldwide.
She was also awarded the Cultural Medallion in 1982. The national award honors major contributors to Singapore’s artistic and cultural scene.
Chen died at 86 in 1993 from complications of rheumatoid arthritis. She remains a notable figure today with numerous exhibitions at museums celebrating her works.
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