Nai Swee Leng

Nai Swee Leng (born 1946, Singapore) is a distinguished Chinese ink painter whose artistic career spans more than six decades. He graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts with a Diploma in Fine Art in 1966, where he built a foundation in both Western and Chinese artistic methods. Following his studies, Nai worked briefly as a graphic designer before committing fully to his practice in ink painting.

Nai is widely recognised for his mastery of the xieyi style, a freehand form of Chinese ink painting that emphasises expressive brushwork, spontaneous composition, and the dynamic interplay of ink and empty space. His lifelong works include works depicting natural subjects such as flora and fauna, rendered with strength, grace, and a deep understanding of traditional brush technique.

In 1966, Nai co founded the Molan Art Association, an organisation dedicated to promoting Chinese painting, calligraphy and seal engraving in Singapore. He has exhibited his works extensively locally and internationally, including in China, Japan and the United States. Nai is also one of only two Singaporean artists inducted into the prestigious Xiling Seal Art Society in Zhejiang, China, reflecting his international standing within the ink art tradition.

Nai continues to contribute to the vitality of Chinese ink painting, both as an educator and as a practitioner. In recognition of his lifelong dedication to the medium and his influence on Singapore’s visual arts landscape, Nai Swee Leng was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2025, Singapore’s highest honour for artistic excellence.