Ling Cher Eng 林子影

Ling Cher Eng  林子影

Born 1940, Singapore

Born in 1940, Ling Cher Eng was a second-generation Singaporean artist devoted to the literati ink tradition. He began studying Chinese painting in 1957 under pioneer master Fan Chang Tien while attending Chung Cheng High School.

Fan’s practice was rooted in the Shanghai School lineage, tracing back to masters such as Wang Geyi, Wang Yiting, Pan Tianshou, and Zhu Wenyun. This literati tradition deeply influenced Ling and resonated strongly with his passion for ink painting.

Admiring Fan profoundly, Ling committed himself to mastering the four essential disciplines of the literati tradition — poetry, painting, calligraphy, and seal carving. His unwavering dedication led him to study under Fan continuously for thirty years, from 1957 to 1987, making him both the first and the longest-serving disciple of Fan Chang Tien.