He Xiangning: Ink and Intent • National Gallery Singapore

National Gallery Singapore, in partnership with the He Xiangning Art Museum, presents He Xiangning: Ink and Intent, the first Southeast Asian retrospective dedicated to the trailblazing 20th-century Chinese female ink artist. Opening on 1 April 2026, this bilingual exhibition showcases over 50 artworks across four chronological sections, charting

He Xiangning’s (何香凝) extraordinary life and artistic journey spanning seven decades. Specially tailored for its Singapore showing, the exhibition emphasizes the artist’s historical ties with Southeast Asia, including her 1929 visits to Singapore and the Philippines, where she organized charity art exhibitions with the backing of local and overseas Chinese communities. 

The curation of this artist is captivating and mesmerizing, highlighting her life, contributions, cultural links, devotion, travels, craft, and the juxtaposition of these elements to create a comprehensive journey and experience of her Intent in assembling the Art. Exquisite!

Born in 1878, He Xiangning was a renowned Chinese ink painter, revolutionary, and social activist. Her artworks are closely linked with the social and cultural evolution of modern China. Beyond her artistic endeavors, He was actively engaged in the political movements of her era and was among the first women to join the Tongmenghui—a revolutionary alliance established in 1905 to overthrow the Qing dynasty. In the following decades, she remained a significant figure in China. A staunch advocate for women’s rights, she became a leading figure in the early women’s liberation movement and organized one of the country’s first International Women’s Day rallies in 1924. 

Leveraging the ongoing collaboration between both institutions, He Xiangning: Ink and Intent goes beyond the usual focus on He’s political career to offer a distinctive curatorial narrative that positions the artist as a pioneering figure in social, political, and artistic realms. The exhibition provides an in-depth exploration of her practice over different periods, showcasing her lasting impact on modern Chinese ink painting. 

This exhibition builds on the collaboration between National Gallery Singapore and the He Xiangning Art Museum, following Georgette Chen: At Home in the World, which traveled to Shenzhen from 9 August to 7 December 2025. 

Dr. Eugene Tan, CEO and Director of National Gallery Singapore, states, “Ink has always been a central research and curatorial focus for the Gallery. We have had the privilege of presenting comprehensive exhibitions on ink masters like Wu Guanzhong and Liu Kuo-Sung. Presenting Southeast Asia's first retrospective dedicated to He Xiangning is thus a deeply significant milestone. We hope visitors will gain a deeper appreciation of her pivotal contributions to modern Chinese ink painting and her enduring legacy as a pioneering woman artist of the twentieth century. This collaboration with He Xiangning Art Museum also reflects the Gallery’s continued commitment to advancing ink scholarship and fostering meaningful dialogue between Singapore, Southeast Asia, and the wider world through collaborative research and exhibitions.” 

Cheng Bin, Deputy Director of He Xiangning Art Museum, says, “We are honored to collaborate with National Gallery Singapore to present He Xiangning: Ink and Intent to audiences in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Our institutions share a commitment to fostering cross-cultural dialogue through exhibitions and scholarly exchange. Last year, we had the opportunity to present Georgette Chen: At Home in the World in Shenzhen, an exhibition that introduced visitors to the works and practices of one of Singapore’s pioneering women artists. The exhibition was extremely well-received, and we are delighted to continue our partnership with the Gallery to expand perspectives and deepen understanding of the influential women artists from the 20th century with the presentation of He Xiangning: Ink and Intent in Singapore.” 

He Xiangning: Ink and Intent offers a chronological view of the artist’s life and career, beginning with In Remembrance of Shuangqing Studio (1878–1925), which explores He’s early artistic education in Japan, where she studied under the Japanese imperial court painter Tanaka Raishō in 1908. During this time, she began painting lions and tigers—motifs that later symbolized national strength and revival. 

The second section, The Friends of Winter by the Shores of Baima Lake (1926–1937), examines He Xiangning’s move to Shanghai and Shaoxing, where she joined several literary and artistic groups, including the Friends of Winter Society. During this period, she transitioned from the meticulous style of her early works on silk to working in ink on paper. 

In 1929, He traveled to Southeast Asia and Europe, bringing over 300 artworks to host fundraising art exhibitions in Manila and Singapore, where she met overseas Chinese students and leaders, including key figures like Khoo Seok Wan. After the 1931 Manchurian Incident, she returned to China to lead national civic activities, including organizing the Calligraphy and Painting Exhibition for the Relief of National Crisis. 

War and Frontier at Dusk (1938-1948) examines He’s artistic practice and personal life during the Second Sino-Japanese War and the onset of the Second World War, as reflected in her artworks and personal letters. Despite limited resources, she continued to use art to rally support and express her patriotic ideals. 

The final section, Longevity in Art and Life (1949-1972), explores He’s practice after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Characterized by artist collaborations and reflection, the works in this section reveal how she continued to explore and play a key role in shaping the development of modern Chinese ink art in her later years. 

Visitors can further engage with the exhibition through a self-guided learning station exploring He Xiangning’s artistic world, including her poetry and recurring motifs such as pine, lions, and tigers. Poetry cards featuring her verses in Chinese and English are available for selection, and visitors may personalize them using stamps inspired by her signature imagery. They are also encouraged to respond to reflective prompts through writing or drawing, with the option of contributing to a communal display that will evolve over the course of the exhibition. The learning station offers an educational introduction to He’s artistic style, highlighting her use of symbolism and the integration of poetry and painting in her Chinese ink works. 

Preview..

https://www.nationalgallery.sg/sg/en/exhibitions/He-Xiangning-Ink-Intent.html