Mdm Kwei Chin Pen was a pioneering figure in Chinese finger ink painting. Trained under Wu Tsai Yen and later Chen Chong Swee, she developed a distinctive style that fused traditional aesthetics with expressive, tactile techniques. Her work gained international recognition when one of her finger paintings was presented to Queen Elizabeth II in 1949. Her legacy continues to be celebrated, most recently in a 2022 showcase at The Fullerton Hotel, reflecting her enduring influence on Singapore’s cultural and artistic heritage.
Twin Dragons is a piece depicting two pine trees grown side by side in vivid turquoise foliage with strong, textured trunks – a traditional motif symbolising resilience, steadfastness and longevity. The work evocatively titled Twin Dragons (雙龍) suggesting both power and grace, and perhaps a spiritual connection between the two forms, rising in harmony. The use of finger painting and choice of colours create soft, layered textures that bring the branches and pine needles to life, giving the work an almost ethereal feel.
The calligraphy on the painting reads “释文: 雙籠 八六年夏 花承平指画”, which translates to: “Twin Dragons, Summer of 1986, Finger painting by Hua Chengping (Kwei Chin Pen)”.
