Master Portraitist
"Singapore Artists Speak 2"
- by Katherine Ho 1995-

A professional and versatile portrait artist-cum restorer, Dr. Lai Kui Fang distinguished himself by winning several overseas scholarships while studying on a French government- sponsored scholarship at the world-renowned Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaus-Arts in the 1960s. Having obtained the prestigious Diploma Superieure D'Art-Plastique in 1969, he went on to master bronze casting, stone sculpture, fresco painting, mosaic and stained glass for the next three years. For his devotion to the French classical painting tradition, he became the first Asian to receive the coveted decoration of Knight of the French Order of Arts and Letters in 1968. He resided in France for 15 years to restore as well as create damaged works of art masters to their former glory. He has won numerous prizes and art awards and held several important appointments such as Lecturer in Fresco Protection of China National UNESCO Committee and an advisor for the Luo - Yellow River archaelogical study in Gongyi City, Henan, China.
"When I was five, my father wanted me to be an engineer or a doctor, never an artist. But art has always been my first love. My copies of Mona Lisa, for example, were inspired through years of study in France where I spent seven years specialising in classical oil painting and another three years in sculpture. I admire great portrait artist such as Goya, Delacroix Gainsborough and others In the tradition of French classical painters, I have chosen a lighter background to highlight the model's features.
As a portrait artist, I create a suitable setting to bring out the fine details of, for example, the opulence and grandeur of the fine and famous. I am also an admirer of Rembrandt's Romantic technique as well as Delacroix's historical style. Look at my nudes. They embrace the classical tradition of applying meticulous coats of paint to render the full naturalness in their pose and to highlight their facial tones. During my attachment to the world-famous Louvre and major European museums, I have restored more than 200 masterpieces including large private collection -- retouching, shaping and colouring them to life-like realism. Besides the classical style, I apply spontaneous brush strokes of the Romantic style to give my works an impressionist feel. When I'm not painting, I sculpt. I have done several bronze busts of famous local personalities. I am also a coin designer for the Paris mint.
Apart from the European tradition, I am also trained in Chinese art. My commissioned projects in China are varied. For example, I have been asked to consider the restoration of a breath-taking mural entitled 'Tile God of Mount Taishan On A Tour of Inspection and Homecoming'. My series of historical paintings which featured former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at the swearing-in ceremony in 1959, and my recently-completed, wall-size works depicting the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, required much study and contemplation. I had to understand the events before portraying the underlying passion accurately. Yes, I like their massive scale. I value them. My latest commission from Singapore Government include Portrait of President Ong Teng Cheong etc. My experience working with diverse media such as bronze, pewter, cement fondu, marble, clay and fibre glass helps me to realise the potential and scope of what I am doing. Above all, my clients must feel a deep sense of satisfaction when they set eyes on my pieces."

Lai Kui Fang, Born 21st January 1936, Malaysia
Citizen of the Republic of Singapore
Entitled French Resident Privilege Since 1970

Art Education
1956 Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore
1963-1972 Diploma from L'Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Beaus Arts, Paris, France, in painting and sculpture. (Master's Degree eqv.)

One-man Exhibitions
1967 Galerie de la Ville De Paris, France
1971 Galerie de Sevres, Paris, France
1972 Triton Museum of Arts, California, USA
1972 Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry
1972 Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore
1975 Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore
1980 Alliance Francaise, Singapore
1981 National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore

Group Exhibitions
1964 & '67 Exposition Les Artistes Etrangers Boursiers du Gouvernement Francais, Orly, France
1964-'76 Salon Des Artistes Francais, Paris, France
1965-'75 Salon De La Nationale Des Beaus-Arts, France
1965 Exposition Prix Paysages de France, D'Esso Standard, France
1965-'75 Participated in many regional exhibitions in France, as well as French exhibitions abroad, in countries including Germany, Austria, Italy and the USA
1972-'86 National Day Art Exhibition, Singapore
1976-'89 Singapore Art Society Annual Art Exhibition, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
1987-'93 Singapore Art Fair
1987 National Museum Centenary Art Exhibition, Singapore
1988-'90 IBM Art Exhibition, Singapore
1989 Ministry of Communications and Information Art Exhibition
1991 Defence Art Competition and Exhibition, Marina Square, Singapore
1991 Exhibition of Well-known Artists from China and Abroad, Henan,
1994 Le Pont Des Arts, Nanyang Artists in Paris, National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore etc.

Selected Awards
1963-1968 Five-year French government scholarship to study in Paris
1965 Silver Medal, Salon Des Artistes Francais, Paris, France
1966 Gold Medal, Salon Des Artistes Francais, Paris, France
1967/'69 Grand Prizes from the French President
Grand Gold Medal from the City of Paris, France
Silver Medal, from the Prefecture de la Seine, France
1968 Italian government scholarship to study in Rome
1968 Four-year Lee Foundation study grant
1968/'75 Knight and Officer of the French Order of Arts & Letters
1991 Doctor of Arts (Hen.) from AEIAF, USA
1991 First Prize, Defence Art Competition
1993 Gold Medal, Golden Goose Prize Calligraphy & Painting Competition, China
Gold Medal, and conferred as one of the "World's Great Artist", by the world-renowned Artist-Review International Committee, China
Doctor of Fine Arts, from P. W. University, USA

National and Private Collections
Triton Museum of Arts, California, USA
City of Paris, France
City of Juvisy France
National Museum Art Gallery, Singapore
History Museum, Singapore
Henan City, China
And many private collections in Singapore and abroad including Malaysia Hong Kong, France, Italy, The Vatican, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Australia, Canada, Argentina, USA, Japan, Taiwan and China

The most striking feature of a Lai Jui Fang painting is his amazing attention to detail to achieve a high degree of realism.
An oil painter par excellence, some of Lai's works have earned the unsavoury remark of being "photographic" - a comment grossly unjustified and surely an affront to a dedicated artist who devoted years perfecting the classical style of oil painting.
Another irony is that this Singapore painter is better known abroad. Lai spent 14 years in Paris where he studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieur des Beaux-Arts, the premier French art academy.
In fact Lai first enrolled there with a scholarship from the French government and had the distinction of having it renewed a record four times. To date this professional artist has won an astonishing 44 medals for artistic achievements.
But Lai is proudest of two awards: he was the first Asian to be received as the Knight & Officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters. Later, he was also given the Grand Vermilion Medal of Paris.
Not surprisingly, he's listed in the French Who's Who and his works are in many permanent and private collections in the U.S. and Europe.
Lai paints mainly with oils, a "heavy" medium suited to his perfectionist temperament and allowing him to retouch, shape and colour to satisfy his desire for realism.
He's become so skillful at it he has won a reputation as a restoration artist among European museums. Not only does he excel in repairing damaged masterpieces, he is known for creating copies of works by the Old Masters.
However, Lai's chief claim to fame lies in his lifelike portraits. A French art critic called him "portraitist complet." Another review gave him the accolade of "grand maitre" in classical portraiture.
Since his return to Singapore seven years ago, Lai has captured many local VIPs and high society patrons with his skilled brush. The naturalness of his subjects has gained him new fans... and more commissions.
A scrutiny of these works reveals definite influences of the Romantic school as well as classical touches reminiscent of 16th-17th century painters.
This is a result of his acquaintance with the works of the Old Masters during painstaking restoration work in the Louvre and other museums.
Lai admitted, "I attribute these influences to my frequent visits to the Louvre and other European museums. Actually, I did restoration work on more than 2000 master-pieces of the Old Masters."
He admires and draws inspiration from their great works. Among them are Rembrandt ("his technique of painting people vibrantly") and Delacroix ("especially his composition and historical style").
Lai says he does both Romantic and classical portraits. A Romantic portrait usually means a sparse background and spontaneous brush strokes to give it an impressionistic flavor.
In comparison, a classical portrait adopts a full frontal perspective, requires at least three coat of paint and meticulous strokes of the brush. "I like both styles. So it depends on the subjects I'm painting. Mostly I adopt a mixture of both techniques. I choose the best, so to speak, to illuminate my subjects."
Actually one finds more classical elements in Lai's portraits. Evidence of this can be found in the imitative grandeur of his settings. Portraits by the classical masters often reflect the opulence of the rich patrons of the arts in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Similarly Lai tends to paint his wealthy subjects with their attendant trappings. Often his models pose with ornate furnishings. The golden furniture or ebony high armchair are dead giveaways. So are the flowing gowns worn by the ladies.
Other rich details include the regal pose, with a pet poodle or favourite stole draped around the shoulders. In short, Lai deliberately creates a "traditional setting" where he can really show off his best etching in the fine details.
In one interesting variation of the saffronrobed abbot, for instance, the artist dextrously paints the delicate creases of the subject's priestly attire. A splendid bronze Buddha in the background adds a classic touch of gold to the composition.
Though he paints men and women, Lai excels in his portraits of women, flattering them with naturalness and subtle facial tones. Again, this is a trait of classical portrait artists.
Lai explained. "True, about 90 per cent of my models are women. Probably this is because women have more time to pose. Men seem too preoccupied with business affairs. Besides, they like to capture on canvas their youth and beauty."
Perhaps Lai is simply following in the footsteps of many famous artists who painted women. Notably there is Goya who glorified the Spanish "Maja" or the English peer Gainsborough who depicted the English nobility and royal court.
Lai's portraits can best be described as those of the French classical style. He has chosen a lighter background to highlight the model's feature.
This departs from the classical backgrounds of Rembrandt or Van Dyck which favour a darker, quiet setting. Two French painters, Ingris and David, obviously influenced Lai in this.
He also sculpts, a legacy from a six-month stint in Rome where he researched ancient cultures. That scholarship fired his interest in sculpture and since then he has completed bronze busts of local personalities, including one work of Dr Yeo Ghim Send.
This versatile artist also paints animals and birds. His pigeon painting have been very well received. there are landscapes too, especially those of Chinatown scenes and the Singapore River.
Recently Lai experimented with the Chinese brush. Inevitably, his scenes of China done during a recent trip have a Westernesed approach. Once more the artist can escape his roots in natural realism.
As the French put, it "le style c'est l'homme" (the style is the man). Lai Kui fang Paints portraits very "au naturel."

The large oil painting titled September 911 - America Under Attack is Dr Lai's most recent large scale painting, measuring 2m by 4m long. This oil masterpiece depicts the final terrifying moments of the Twin Tower office buildings collapsing after being hit by two commercial airlines respectively. And also captured on canvass are the chaotic mass of survivors running desperately away from the collapsing towers and their horrified looks that will forever remain etched in people mind around the world that witnessed this tragic incident on their TV sets.

Primarily, Dr. Lai's motivation to capture this tragic event on canvass this first globally shocking historical moment of the 21st century is for future generations of humanity to reflect upon the significance of this tragic day. For this objective, Dr. Lai has succeeded in capturing this historically significant moment.

To complete this oil painting, Dr. Lai spent 478 hours, including countless pencil sketches, revisions, contemplations and comments from his peers before the final moment is realistically drawn on canvass.

This oil masterpiece depicts about 260 human figures and faces, more than 100 firefighters, 34 office towers including the Manhattan bridge with the haunting silhouette of the Statute of Liberty in the distant background as seen from ground zero.
Painting Refer to [History Painting]