EY Asean Art Outreach
Rhapsody
of colors
Presented by Wu Xueli
Fishes (detail)
full image on page 22
About Wu Xueli
Born in Beijing, Wu Xueli migrated to Singapore in 1991 and holds a
bachelor’s degree as well as master’s degree in the art of oil painting from
RMIT, Australia and LaSalle-SIA College of Arts, Singapore, respectively.
From 1985 to 1987, Xueli was teaching at the Central Art and Craft
Academy in Beijing, currently known as the Art Academy of Qing Hua
University. Soon after her teaching assignment, she became a full time
artist in oil painting.
Xueli’s traditional values allow her creations to take gentle and soothing
forms. Yet her passion and concerns about the modern and dynamic world
gave her a deft hand in creating deep and strong textures captured in her
works. It is through this intertwining of traditional and modern strokes that
one can see in her paintings a rhythm of musical poetry.
“In art, we say that space is a process through time —
with layers and layers of thought. When I paint, I do
not think of what I am about to paint; but follow the
tone and rhythm of color and gradually a form appears.
This abstract style of painting is thus full of challenges
and surprises for me, something which I enjoy.”
1
Foreword
Max Loh
3
Introduction to the exhibition
5
About the artist and her works
6
Artworks
9
Index of artworks
31
Biography
32
The write-ups on the artist expressed in this catalog are
that of the writer’s own views and do not necessarily
reflect the views of members of the global EY organization.
Published in conjunction with the exhibition: Rhapsody of colors.
Orchestra (detail)
full image on page 15
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Designed and produced by:
Ernst & Young Solutions LLP
One Raffles Quay, North Tower, Level 18, Singapore 048583
Phone: +65 6535 7777 Fax: +65 6532 7662
We are pleased to present the 23rd edition of EY’s Asean Art Outreach program, featuring
Singapore artist, Wu Xueli. Entitled Rhapsody of colors, the exhibition displays 20 paintings
which expresses Xueli’s image of Singapore’s culture through modern influences, without
altering its traditional values.
Xueli has held various exhibitions in Singapore, Taiwan, Australia and Indonesia. Some of the
Foreword, Max Loh
collectors include Singapore Art Museum, China Art Museum and Li Keran Art Museum. Xueli
graduated from LaSalle-SIA College of Arts in Singapore with a master’s degree in oil painting.
Launched 10 years ago as part of the firm’s corporate social responsibility program, the
EY Asean Outreach program provides a platform for artistic talents in the region to display
their works in our office gallery. With the aim of encouraging and supporting these young
talent, it also provides an opportunity for our clients, staff and the public to appreciate the
vibrant art scene here in Southeast Asia. The art exhibitions are held once every four to five
months featuring different artists from the Asean region including Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.
Proceeds of the sale of the works will not only help the artists, but a portion will also be set
aside to benefit charitable causes. Through our established position in the business community
and our efforts in this outreach program, we hope to bring art closer to our network of clients
and friends, as well as connect us to business and government leaders in our communities.
Max Loh
Managing Partner, Asean and Singapore
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Red tree (detail)
full image on page 19
4
Introduction to the exhibition
— Jack Yu, Goshen Art Gallery
The first meeting with artist Wu Xueli will always fill one with her enthusiasm and passionate
expression of her works.
Xueli’s success has come a long way; partly attributed to the hardship, rigorous training, thorough
and prolonged practices in the immediate aftermath of the Cultural Revolution in China from 1966
to 1976, and also due to the drastic transition and change of style from 1999 after undergoing a
fine arts program at the LaSalle-SIA College of Arts in Singapore under the guidance of Milenko
Prvacki and brother Joseph McNally. The former has embedded her to master the use of colors
and layers of mastery of Chinese traditional and modern strokes, while the latter has reformed
her mindset to paint using emotions rather than sight.
Xueli is an artist of her time. Training sessions in art were rigorous, thorough and prolonged for
artists of that era. It insisted on a socialist realist style which was somewhat at odds with traditional
brush painting in China. However, 10 years of propaganda could not undo 3,000 years of Chinese
tradition. Xueli imbibed all the dexterity of the use of Chinese brush and at the same time, acquired
a sound knowledge of Western perspective and realism.
Upon arriving in Singapore, she was fascinated by the strong sunlight and shadows. She then
produced very distinctive body of works. Her paintings aspects were full of colors and textures;
lighting and illusion are fully appreciated. The works reflect the ideas and feelings that inspire Xueli.
Her works are very seductive and invite the viewer to use senses other than sight to experience the
works. Overall, the works are powerful and have tremendous presence.
Rhapsody of colors is a continual series by Xueli featuring tropical plants, childhood memories,
as well as a diversity of colors inspired by the diverse races and cultures in Singapore. We invite
viewers to examine and appreciate the application of vibrant hues, vivid textures and depth
layered with the mastery of Chinese traditional and modern strokes.
This art exhibition is organized by EY as part of their Asean Art Outreach program and Xueli is
thrilled to be able to share her works with the business community and continuing her aspirations
as a full time artist.
I hope you will enjoy Xueli’s work as much as we did in bringing the exhibition to you, at EY.
EY is very grateful to:
• Jack Yu of Goshen Art Gallery for his curatorial reviews and for introducing Wu Xueli to us.
5
About the artist and her works
— Jack Yu, Goshen Art Gallery
When writing about Singapore artists, a set of labels usually precede the person. From
pioneer artists, Nanyang painters, second-generation to the young and emerging artists —
these neat descriptors make one wonder what lenses we should use to view all other artists
who do not fall into these categories.
Wu Xueli is one such artist. Born in Beijing, the artist taught at the Central Academy of Arts
and Crafts (now known as the Art Academy of Qing Hua University) from 1985 to 1987
and also exhibited at the Chinese Avant-Garde Artists Exhibition at the British Embassy in
Beijing in 1985. Unlike many of her peers who sought their careers in Europe, Xueli moved
to Singapore in 1991 where she married a Singaporean and raised their daughter.
Her story is similar to the Nanyang artists but not quite — being female, much younger, and
pursuing an entirely different style to depict Singapore’s scenery and culture. Xueli returned
to the Laselle-SIA college of Arts in Singapore following the birth of her daughter in 1999.
It was here in Singapore that her style underwent a drastic transition. From her rigorous
training in painting en plein air, Xueli was taught by Milenko Prvacki and brother Joseph
McNally who encouraged her to “shake out tradition from her bones and input the modern
in her veins”. Forgoing the strict portrayal of subjects before her, Xueli’s abstract style
emerged; swapping the brush for a palette knife, an intermediary which allows the painting
to guide her.
While some speakers’ gesture as a way of adding strength to their words, Xueli’s animated
gestures are expressions of her passionate personality. She enthuses over her choice of
color, speaking of the inspirations gained from Singapore’s multi-ethnic society at length —
colors through batik and Indian traditional costumes which she collects. An educator
herself at the SIM University, Xueli’s admiration and respect for her teachers and senior
artists is palpable.
Hope (detail)
full image on page 16
6
“I was surprised that she remembered and applied the pointers I had given her at her previous exhibition.
Not many artists pay heed to other artists or even apply [the advice] in their work,” shared Choy Weng Yang,
one of Singapore’s foremost abstract painter, and curator at the National Museum of Singapore from 1978
to 1984.
Now known for her arresting, dynamic and colorful abstract oil paintings, Xueli’s artworks examine the
application of vibrant hues, vivid textures and depth layered with the mastery of Chinese traditional and
modern strokes. Her oil paintings are visual expressions of her inner soul and representations of her
fervent modernistic spirit as well as creative inspiration.
One of her works Golden dragon (painting #03) represents her deep enactment in Chinese cultural history,
together with thick layering of vibrant colors and textures which narrates the hardship and tedious times
that the artist went through during her younger days during post Cultural Revolution China.
Heritage tree (painting #011) and Bamboo (painting #012) allows the viewers to examine the vivid hues
and color compositions used. The works are painted recently, capturing the artist’s innermost sentiment
in mature mood during a few of her late-night painting sessions. The dashes of lighter tones depict new
life, new hopes and refreshing future.
The Golden autumn (painting #015) is another classic example of Xueli’s inculcated traditional values that
allows her to take gentle and soothing forms, yet her passion and concerns about modern and dynamic
world gave her a deft hand in the creation of depth and strong textures. It is through this intertwining of
traditional and modern strokes that you can see in her paintings a rhythm of musical poetry.
Since 1991, Xueli has taken part in many exhibitions in Singapore. Prior to that, many of her works had
been displayed in various countries including Taiwan, Australia, and Indonesia and collected by organizations
and private art connoisseurs such as Singapore Art Museum, China Art Museum and Li Keran Art Museum.
Xueli holds a master’s degree in oil painting from LaSalle-SIA College of Arts in Singapore.
7
Lake reflection (detail)
full image on page 28
8
Rhapsody
of colors
Artworks by Wu Xueli
9
001
10
Lotus
oil on canvas
120 x 120 cm
Universe
oil on canvas
120 x 120 cm
002
11
003
12
Golden dragon
oil on canvas
100 x 120 cm
History
oil on canvas
70 x 120 cm
004
13
005
14
History II
oil on canvas
70 x 120 cm
Orchestra
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
006
15
007
16
Hope
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
Joyful
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
008
17
009
18
Galloping horse
oil on canvas
61 x 92 cm
Red tree
oil on canvas
50 x 50 cm
010
19
011
20
Heritage tree
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
Bamboo
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
012
21
013
22
Fishes
oil on canvas
76 x 76 cm
Waves
oil on canvas
61 x 91 cm
014
23
015
24
Golden autumn
oil on canvas
61 x 91 cm
Blessings
oil on canvas
76 x 76 cm
016
25
017
26
Harmony
oil on canvas
76 x 76 cm
Spring is here
oil on canvas
61 x 91 cm
018
27
019
28
Lake reflection
oil on canvas
61 x 76 cm
Life
oil on canvas
50 x 50 cm
020
29
Heritage tree (detail)
full image on page 20
30
Index of artworks
001Lotus
oil on canvas
120 x 120 cm
008Joyful
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
015
002Universe
oil on canvas
120 x 120 cm
009
Galloping horse
oil on canvas
61 x 92 cm
016Blessings
oil on canvas
76 x 76 cm
003
010
Red tree
oil on canvas
50 x 50 cm
017Harmony
oil on canvas
76 x 76 cm
Heritage tree
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
018
Golden dragon
oil on canvas
100 x 120 cm
Golden autumn
oil on canvas
61 x 91 cm
004History
oil on canvas
70 x 120 cm
011
005
History II
oil on canvas
70 x 120 cm
012Bamboo
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
019
006Orchestra
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
013Fishes
oil on canvas
76 x 76 cm
020Life
oil on canvas
50 x 50 cm
007Hope
oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
014Waves
oil on canvas
61 x 91 cm
Spring is here
oil on canvas
61 x 91 cm
Lake reflection
oil on canvas
61 x 76 cm
31
Wu Xueli
Born in Beijing, China and migrated to Singapore in 1991. Wu Xueli works in Beijing
YongHe Art Studio and Wu Xueli Art Studio in Singapore. She is also a lecturer at the
Singapore Institute of Management University. From 1985 to 1987, she taught at the
Central Academy of Arts and Crafts. In 1984, Xueli graduated from the Department
of Linguistics Arts of International Politics Institute in Beijing, then subsequently
attained her bachelor’s and master’s degree in Fine Art from the Royal Melbourne
Institute of Australia.
Exhibitions
Universe (detail)
full image on page 11
32
1985
Chinese Avant-Garde Artists at British Embassy, Beijing
1994
United Overseas Bank Painting of the Year Art Show, Singapore
2000
ASEAN Art Awards Exhibition, Singapore and Indonesia
2001
Infinity: 8th RMIT Arts Exhibition Melbourne, Australia
2003
The 1st Beijing International Art Biennale, China Museum
2005
The 2nd Beijing International Art Biennale, China Museum
2007
The 3rd Beijing International Art Biennale, Beijing Shi Ji Tan
2009
Singapore Black Earth Art Museum, Singapore
2010
Beijing Art Space, Beijing
2011
DaTang Fine Arts, Singapore
2012
artcommune gallery, Singapore
2013
Museum of Contemporary Arts, Singapore
2014
artcommune gallery, Singapore
2015
Lion City Art Gallery, Singapore
2016
Goshen Art Gallery, Singapore
2017
EY Asean Art Outreach, Singapore
Tina Keng Gallery, Taiwan
The broken rhymes, 1st solo art show, Lokanat Galleries, Yangon
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