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Here, Chen Wen Hsi has chosen the wild Mallard species instead of the ornamental Mandarin ducks more popularly used in Chinese brush paintings, perhaps because the Mallards represent a more carefree existence. He seems enraptured by the drake’s glossy bottle-green head. Still, ducks represent conjugal fidelity and affection, even longevity. That is why ducks are mostly depicted as a pair and seldom solitary or in packs unlike pigeons for example. Ducks have an interesting shape particularly with their beaks, feathers, legs, tails and bodies, which are all streamlined for swimming. This painting of ducks seems to be inspired by his favourite artist Badashanren (also known as Zhu Da, 1626-1725).

Wen Hsi had his art tutelage at the Shanghai College of Art (1928) and then the Xinhua College of Art in Shanghai (1932) and taught there from 1946 to 1947. Under the instruction of Pan Tianshou, he also mastered the art of finger painting and is adept at both Chinese and Western style art. He migrated to Singapore in 1948 and taught at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from 1951 to 1959. For advancing Chinese brush painting traditions to new heights through his writing on art and his dedication to teaching it, he was awarded Singapore’s Meritorious Service Star Award (1964) and the Meritorious Service Gold Award (posthumous, 1992). He was also given the Asean Cultural and Communications Award in 1987 and the Golden Chapter by the Taiwan National Museum in 1980. He was awarded an Honourary Doctorate by the National University of Singapore in 1975. His career involves numerous exhibitions in various countries including Singapore, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong.