ACCLAIMED Chinese-Singaporean photographer Chua Soo-bin believes he was very fortunate to have had the opportunity to photograph 14 contemporary Chinese master painters from 1985 to 1988.

Today, all the painters - Zhu Qizhan, Liu Haisu, Huang Junbi, Zhao Shao'ang, Chen Wenxi, Wang Jiqian, Li Keran, Ye Qianyu, Wu Zuoren, Lu Yanshao, Xie Zhiliu, Li Xiongcai, Tang Yun and Guan Shanyue - have passed away, but their images have been preserved through Chua's Nikon F3 camera.

"All these master painters touched my heart not only with their great works but also with their personality, wisdom, knowledge, modesty and sincerity. This is what I managed to preserve with my photographs," said Chua.

Born in 1932, Chua has had a special liking for traditional Chinese arts and culture since his childhood. In 1955, he was honored for his work by the International Federation of Photographic Art in France.

Chua's project on photographing contemporary Chinese master painters dates back to 1984 when Chua was in China on a one-month assignment for Singapore Airlines to photograph the landscape and folk culture. This was Chua's first time in China and he discovered there were very few photographs of Chinese painters.

The next year, Chua went back to China and talked with his friend Huang Miaozi, an acclaimed Chinese painter in Beijing, about his idea of photographing Chinese master painters.

Huang promised to act as Chua's adviser and help contact 14 renowned Chinese painters, all more than 80 years old.

During the next four years, Chua traveled to the mainland nine times, to Hong Kong four times, to Taiwan twice and once to New York to photograph the 14 Chinese master painters.

By the end of the project, Chua had shot more than 2,000 black-and-white pictures.

"The only reason I chose black-and-white film, instead of color, was because traditional Chinese ink paintings are black-and-white pictures and I believe black-and-white photographs can best capture the spirit of those Chinese master painters," Chua said.

Before photographing, he usually did extensive research to get to know the artist and his art world. First, he tried to see the artist's paintings and expand his knowledge with reference books on the artist.

Then, he talked with the artist's relatives, friends or students to learn about the artist's lifestyle, interests or hobbies.

"I seldom photographed those artists working behind desks in their studio. Instead, I liked to put them in various daily life situations and environments, which could best reflect their personalities," Chua said.

The first Chinese painter Chua photographed was Shanghai-based Zhu Qizhan.

"Zhu was the oldest among the 14 giants of Chinese art when I started my project. Despite his age, Zhu still retained his childlike innocence," Chua said.

Chua accompanied Zhu to a kindergarten and took one of his best shots of Zhu when he was teaching children to paint.

Chua said his favorite Chinese master painter was Shanghai-based Tang Yun.

"Tang was one of those artists who really know how to enjoy life. He liked smoking and drinking alcohol and tea," Chua said.

After learning Tang loved crabs, Chua went to the market and bought enough fat crabs to make a special meal in a restaurant.

Chua installed his camera on a tripod with a cable release before Tang's arrival. At first, Chua drank with Tang. But after a while, Chua pretended to be drunk and went to the rest room. When he came back, he stealthily pressed the cable release.

"Even today, I still remember the scene. Tang finished drinking the six bottles of spirits I bought, and the six bottles have become part of my private collection," Chua said.

In 1989, at his own expense, Chua published Portraits of Excellence, an anthology of his best photographs of the 14 Chinese master painters.

Editor: Wing