Dr Ho Kah Leong

Celebrated artist and art educator Ho Kah Leong, aged 78, has been active in local art scene for the past six decades. He is now the President of Singapore Arts Federation.

In mid-50’s of last century, Ho had a short stint at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) for one and a half year. After completing his secondary education at Chung Cheng High School, he was matriculated in the Nanyang University and obtained his BSc degree in 1963. Upon graduation, he joined the teaching profession and was elected as a Member of Parliament in 1966. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary in 1981 and promoted to Senior Parliamentary Secretary in 1984. He has never given up his hobby of painting no matter how busy he was in his political life. He has been known to have officiated at the most number of opening ceremonies of art exhibitions during his term of office and even now.

After serving as an MP for thirty solid years, he stepped down from political arena and was soon appointed as the Principal of NAFA in 1997. During his six and a half years’ tenure in NAFA, he beefed up the administration and staff strength of the academy, collaborated with world known universities to run degree courses for NAFA graduates. His major contribution to NAFA is to raise fund (10% of $110m) to build NAFA new campus at Bencoolen Street. NAFA students can now study arts in a cosy environment with state-of-the-art facilities.

In recognition of his contributions in politics and the arts, Ho was conferred Hon PhD by the Wisconsin International University of USA in 2001.

He specialises in oil paintings. He insists on location painting as he believes only on-the-spot painting can arouse one’s emotion which is essential in bringing life to a scenery painting. His paintings are known to have captured the sunlight and myriad of colours, characteristic of the tropical countries and can be uniquely recognised with bold strokes and bright colours resembling those of the impressionist masters and lately his works even traces of expressionism and fauvism. Ho is also recognised for his bold strokes in his Chinese calligraphy works.

He is regarded as one of the outstanding 2nd generation of Nanyang School of artists by local art critics. He has held several art exhibitions for charity and often donates his paintings for auction towards charitable cause.

Born in Singapore in 1937

ART EDUCATION

1955 – 1956 Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

EDUCATION

1954 Primary: Sin Sheng School
1959 Secondary: Chung Cheng High School
1963 Tertiary: Nanyang University (BSc)

CAREERS

1964 – 1975 High School Teacher
1975 – 1981 General Manager, Educational Publications Bureau
1981 – 1984 Parliamentary Secretary
1984 – 1996 Senior Parliamentary Secretary
1997 – 2003 Principal, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
2003 – 2005 Executive Director, NAFA International Pte Ltd
2005 – date Senior Consultant, Pioneers & Leaders (Publishers) Pte Ltd

SOLO EXHIBITION

1990 “Nostalgic Scenes” at SCCCI
1991 “Beauty Lion City” at NAFA Gallery
1993 “Scenes Splendor” at NAFA Gallery
1997 “Passion for Art: Solo Exhibition of Ho Kah Leong’s Location
Paintings” at SooBin Gallery
2000 “Idyllic Nanyang” at SooBin Gallery
2001 “Idyllic Tropics” at Central Gallery, K.L.
2002 “Beauty of Nature” at NAFA Gallery
2006 “Parks in Garden City” at Artrium, MICA
2007 “Last Kampung in Singapore” at Tembusu Art Gallery
2008 “Poetic Ubin” at Tembusu Art Gallery/ Black Earth Art Museum
2009 “Splendor of Lakes and Hills” at Tembusu Art Gallery
2011 “Rhythm of the Sea” at Tembusu Art Gallery
2013 “Lion City Rediscovered” at Tembusu Art Gallery/ Ion Art Gallery
2015 “Exotic Landscape” at Tembusu Art Gallery/ The Art Space @ Suntec

GROUP EXHIBITION

1978 – 1987 Nantah Graduates Art Exhibition at National Museum Art Gallery
1987 National Museum Centennial Art Exhibition
1991 – 1993 Singapore Art Fair at World Trade Centre
1994 Singapore Treasures at World Trade Centre
1995 Joint Exhibition with Mr K. C. Lee at Takashimaya Art Gallery
1997 President’s Charity Art Exhibition at Dr Earl Lu Gallery
1997 10-Man Art Exhibition at Peras Gallery, Penang
1998 7-Man Ubin Connection Exhibition at Orchard Point Gallery
2000 “10-Man Beautiful Ubin Exhibition” at NAFA Gallery
2008 “Asia in Focus” in Taipei, Taiwan
2008 “2nd International Art Expo” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2009 “39-Artist Exhibition: 3000 Years of Passion and Colour • Our Artists Our Legacy” at Black Earth Art Museum
2009 “19 Singapore Artists Exhibition: Landmarks, Taipei” at Black Earth Art Museum
2011 “Refections on Cambodia” at MICA ARTrium
2011 “Exiting 100 – Singapore, Taiwan International Art Exhibition” at MICA ARTrium
2012 Work selected for London Olympic Art Exhibition
2014 “President’s Charity Art Exhibition” at The Arts House
2015 - "100% Singapore", Tembusu Art Gallery, Singapore