CHIU Soong-ngar (趙崇雅), also known as CHIU Sin-kee (趙善淇) (1919 – 2015) was a native of Xīn Hu, Guǎngdōng (廣東, 新會). He loved writing Chinese poems and Chinese painting since his childhood. He learnt poetry with Mr Zhèng Shuǐxīn (鄭水心老師) and Chinese painting with Mr Lǐ Fènggōng (李鳳公老師), a very famous master artist from Guǎngdōng. He learnt with Mr Li in Hong Kong for over 10 years and excelled at learning the skills and style of Mr Li.

Mr Chiu’s specialty was landscape painting, flower and bird painting. He migrated to Australia around 1980 and lived in Sydney.  He was fond of the Australian landscape and travelled widely with lots of sketching and painting on the local landscape. Mr Chiu used to collect local earths and stones which he ground to make colours for his paintings.

In his later years, he enjoyed painting with his fingers instead of brushes.  He attained a more spontaneous and unpretentious style.

Mr Chiu made great contributions in promoting Chinese painting in Sydney.  My teacher, Mr Ip Chit-hoo (葉哲豪老師), was also a student of Mr Li.  Mr Chiu was most kindly in giving me encouragement and advice about Chinese landscape painting.

He held two highly successful solo exhibitions at the Chinese Cultural Centre in Chatswood in 1999 and 2008.  Also in 2008, he donated four paintings to raise money for the victims of the Sì Chuān (四川) Earthquake.

Four paintings of Mr Chiu shown here were purchased by me at his 2008 solo exhibition, and another two from the charity sale through Sing Tao newspaper.

This page is in memory of Mr Chiu who passed away peacefully on 17 November 2015, aged 96.  Amitābha

CHIU Soong-ngar, Untitled (Snow Scene), 雪景, 1984, ink and watercolour on paper, 81 x 39 cm. Inscriptions: 甲子孟冬 崇雅, Seal: 趙善淇(朱纹)
CHIU Soong-ngar, Untitled (Snow Scene), 雪景, 1984, ink and watercolour on paper, 81 x 39 cm. Inscriptions: 甲子孟冬 崇雅, Seal: 趙善淇(朱文)
CHIU Soong-ngar, Summer Retreat in a Pavilion among the Mountains 山亭消夏, 1984, ink and watercolour on paper, 61 x 24.5 cm. Inscriptions: 趙崇雅, seal: 趙崇雅(白紋)
CHIU Soong-ngar, Summer Retreat in a Pavilion among the Mountains 山亭消夏, 1984, ink and watercolour on paper, 61 x 24.5 cm. Inscriptions: 趙崇雅, seal: 趙崇雅(白文)

 

CHIU Soong-ngar, Clear Pond and Studio in Misty Rain 清潭雨齋, 1982, ink and watercolour on paper, 65 x 24.5 cm. Inscriptions: 清潭雨齋, 一九八二年 趙崇雅
CHIU Soong-ngar, Clear Pond and Studio in Misty Rain 清潭雨齋, 1982, ink and watercolour on paper, 65 x 24.5 cm. Inscriptions: 清潭雨齋, 一九八二年 趙崇雅
CHIU Soong-ngar, Untitled, 56 x 11.2 cm, Seal: 崇雅八十後作(白紋)
CHIU Soong-ngar, Untitled, 56 x 11.2 cm, Seal: 崇雅八十後作(白文)
CHIU Soong-ngar, Pavilion and Houses by the Autumn Lake 誰家亭子傍西灣 , 2007, ink and watercolour on paper, 56 x 33 cm. Inscriptions: 眇叟年八十八 趙崇雅指画, seal: 崇雅(朱紋), 趙善淇印(白紋)
CHIU Soong-ngar, Pavilion and Houses by the Autumn Lake 誰家亭子傍西灣 , 2007, ink and watercolour on paper, 56 x 33 cm. Inscriptions: 眇叟年八十八 趙崇雅指画, seal: 崇雅(朱文), 趙善淇印(白文)
The above painting with the Calligraphy of Liáng Fānggāng (梁方綱), ink on paper, 28 x 33 cm. 誰家亭子傍西灣, 高樹扶疏出石間。落葉盡隨溪雨去, 只留秋色滿空山。
The above painting with the Calligraphy of Liáng Fānggāng (梁方綱), ink on paper, 28 x 33 cm. 誰家亭子傍西灣, 高樹扶疏出石間。落葉盡隨溪雨去, 只留秋色滿空山。
CHIU Soong-ngar, Besides a Pavilion in a Forest 茂林石磴小亭邊 , 2007, ink and watercolour on paper, 56 x 33 cm. Inscriptions: 眇叟年八十八 趙崇雅指画, seal: 崇雅(朱紋), 趙善淇印(白紋)
CHIU Soong-ngar, Besides a Pavilion in a Forest 茂林石磴小亭邊 , 2007, ink and watercolour on paper, 56 x 33 cm. Inscriptions: 眇叟年八十八 趙崇雅指画, seal: 崇雅(朱文), 趙善淇印(白文)
The above painting with the Calligraphy of Liáng Fānggāng (梁方綱), ink on paper, 28 x 33 cm. 茂林石磴小亭邊 , 遥望雲心隔淡烟。却憶舊游何處去，翠蛟亭下看流泉。
The above painting with the Calligraphy of Liáng Fānggāng (梁方綱), ink on paper, 28 x 33 cm. 茂林石磴小亭邊 , 遥望雲心隔淡烟。却憶舊游何處去，翠蛟亭下看流泉。

 

Invitation to the Solo Exhibition in 2008
Invitation to the Solo Exhibition in 2008

 

Paper cutting of Sing Tao Daily dated 26 May 2008

Paper cutting of Sing Tao Daily dated 26 May 2008

星島聯網‧澳洲版 社區: 九十高齡開畫展顯夕陽無限好 趙崇雅從藝五十五年獲雪梨元老讚揚 　 26 May 2008 / 09:30 a.m.

(see http://www.singtao.com.au/AUSTRALIAnews/public/article_v.cfm?articleid=104775&intcatid=1)

 

Paper cutting of Sing Tao Daily dated 7-8 June 2008
Paper cutting of Sing Tao Daily dated 7-8 June 2008

星島聯網‧澳洲版 社區: 九旬名畫家趙崇雅捐四國畫義賣　 8 June 2008 / 09:30 a.m.

(See http://www.singtao.com.au/AUSTRALIAnews/public/article_v.cfm?articleid=105201&intcatid=1)

 

 

Feb 6, 2014 - Copy

Mr Chiu and Patrick taken at the 2014 Chinese New Year Celebration (拾緣會2014 新春雅集)

 

To view the art of Li Fenggong (Mr Chiu’s teacher), please click the following link :

https://patricksiu.wordpress.com/the-art-of-li-fenggong-%E6%9D%8E%E9%B3%B3%E5%85%AC/