Inspired by a sketching trip to Java and Bali in June and July of 1952, the exhibition Bali was a sensation in Singapore and became a milestone in the country’s art history—though details of the journey remained little known- until now. Everything changed with the recent discovery of more than 1,000 photographs taken by Liu Kang during the seven-week trip.
With over 250 black-and-white images, along with Liu Kang’s private diary, letters to his wife, and other archival sources to draw upon, this book brings to life an inspiring journey that left a lasting legacy on Singapore’s art scene. With an artist’s eye, Liu Kang captured landscapes, architecture, daily life, and the dignity of individuals in portraits, creating an extraordinary snapshot of Indonesian culture and society.
![](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Firresistiblemagazine.com.au%2Firresistible-writers-gretchen-liu-tells-the-story-of-four-china-born-artists-who-made-their-home-in-singapore-and-in-1953-held-an-exhibition-titled-bali%2F&media=https://irresistiblemagazine.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Your-paragraph-text-19.png&description=Singapore-based writer Liu creates a vivid time capsule of Indonesian history with her book "Bali 1952 Through the Lens of Liu Kang" which launches at Ibah hotel in Ubud Writers and Readers festival this week.){kind=link}