6) The artist of the 50 dollars note
There is a pair of gibbons on the back of Singapore 50 dollars note. The gibbons are there not only to beautify the note but they also signify a great artist who contributed his entire whole life to the art world.
陈文希, Chen Wen Hsi, was born in China, Guangdong province. He migrated to Singapore in 1948 and passed on in 1992. He loves art and nature at a young age. He grown up in a suburb village and was taught by renowned artists like Pan Tianshou in Xinhua College of Arts in Shanghai, China.
Chen was proficient both in traditional Chinese ink paint and western oil paint. He focuses in observing the behavior of nature and animals. The subject varies from landscapes, figures, birds to animals. He has a penchant for gibbons and owned 6 of them. One white, one gray and four black ones. These beautiful animals gave him the opportunities to study the creature’s postures and its characteristics.
In 1975, Chen was conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the then-Chancellor of the University of Singapore and the then-President of Singapore, Mr Benjamin Sheares. He earned many more titles like Public Service Star; Cultural & Communications Award just to name a few.
Chen was also a perfectionist to his own art works. While he was insistant to leave the best on earth, he burnt away paintings he deemed not up to his standard. A rigorous artist, he woke up early in the morning at 6am to do his paintings without a skip for many decades.
So the next time, if you happen to hold on to a Singapore 50 dollars note, just spare some time to say hello to these gibbons and the great artist before you pass it on to another!
AddGrainOnEarth 
February 20, 2013 at 12:20 am
I love this artists work. How wonderful that it is on a bank note. I love those fish – just lovely.
February 20, 2013 at 12:25 am
Thanks, and I love the 50 dollars note ! gege!
February 20, 2013 at 1:26 am
Thank you – I never knew about this artist! Remarkable!!
February 20, 2013 at 1:32 am
You are welcome! Is good to know him! Thanks for reading! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 1:59 am
🙂
February 20, 2013 at 1:59 am
Hi! I love your blog and have awarded you the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Check it out:
http://lasesana.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/very-inspiring-blogger-award-thanks-tuttacronaca/
February 20, 2013 at 2:03 am
Thanks, Lasesana! Have a good day! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 2:05 am
You too! Thanks! and congrats!
February 20, 2013 at 2:18 am
It’s amazing, really, how such care is taken with all currencies–and we only see its worth–not its true value, as this post showcases. Love those lil fellas, too!
February 20, 2013 at 2:28 pm
Yes, truly ! If we can spend some time on tiny stuffs, you may find a larger world in it!
Thanks, Karen! Have a great day! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 5:36 am
Lovely works of art
February 20, 2013 at 2:31 pm
Indeed! Thank you! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 6:33 am
I’ve never seen Singaporean banknotes before! And i’ve never seen such refined artwork on notes! So beautiful thank you for sharing!
February 20, 2013 at 2:32 pm
You are welcome! I’m so glad you like it! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 7:23 am
What beautiful paintings and to have one on a bank note – just lovely. I’ve never seen these bank notes either so thank you very much for showing them to us. 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 2:36 pm
You are welcome!
If you are keen on 5 dollars note story, you can find it in my top 20 post, position near the last, quick, pick it up!
Before it disappear! Cheers! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 8:32 am
wow.. this is nice info for me. I’ve never seen Singaporean banknotes. and now i have and know something about it
February 20, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Hey! Another 5 dollars note story under top 20 posts. This is also a very interesting article on our country banknote.
This article is ranking around 18th now, pick it up before it disappear!
Thanks for reading!
Ryan, have a nice day! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 12:32 pm
The artwork really is amazing!
February 20, 2013 at 2:49 pm
Thank you, Melia! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 12:35 pm
Great post!!! Beautiful art work!!! Fish art is mind-blowing!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
February 20, 2013 at 2:50 pm
I owe you so much of appreciations!
Thank you, Rexlin! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 4:44 pm
I do love the gibbon pictures, so beautifully drawn. Nice bank notes !
February 20, 2013 at 8:24 pm
You are always so encouraging!
Thank you! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 9:12 pm
GORGEOUS PAINTINGS!
February 20, 2013 at 9:59 pm
Thank you! 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 10:00 pm
Welcome. 🙂
February 20, 2013 at 10:35 pm
The art has such a delicate beauty to it… it’s beautiful!! 😀
February 20, 2013 at 10:41 pm
Sydney keep one for you! Hug! 🙂
February 21, 2013 at 10:32 am
I will to go back and check if I still have any Singapore 50 dollars! 😀
February 21, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Spare one past it to me to confirm! Haha! 🙂
February 21, 2013 at 2:59 pm
Very interesting! Those fish are so …real!
February 21, 2013 at 6:26 pm
I always admire and respect artist, how talented they are! 🙂
February 23, 2013 at 9:02 am
That’s interesting! Never realize there are 2 monkeys on the S$50 note 😀
February 23, 2013 at 11:48 am
$50 for 2, not too bad! Haha!
Thanks for the visiting! 🙂
April 3, 2013 at 11:13 pm
That was very interesting. I have never even seen a bank note from Singapore. The artist’s work in beautiful. Interesting to find out the meaning behind the flag as well. It’s very deep. Good principles.
April 4, 2013 at 12:21 am
Thanks for your reading and appreciation!
Have a good day! 🙂
April 4, 2013 at 1:34 am
Thank-you! And thank-you, you too…
April 4, 2013 at 9:56 am
🙂
May 5, 2013 at 1:05 am
Thank you, Sydney, I sooooo love these kinds of works!!!!!!
May 5, 2013 at 1:21 pm
Thank you! Unfortunately, he has pass away, if not I can for teaching me! 🙂