Life stories of senior Malaysian Chinese artists highlighted in photo exhibition

The Star

4 days ago

The three-day photography exhibition Malaysian Chinese Painters In Their Golden Years by Khong Miaw Leong and Soon Yee Ling, which opened yesterday at the Kong Choi Room, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH), Jalan Maharajalela in Kuala Lumpur offers a rare chance to connect with the personal stories of pioneering artists who shaped Malaysian art history.
The show, presented by Wayfinder Publishing House and the Cultural and Educational Committee of the KLSCAH, also marks the first public showing of selected works from The Face Of What We Are: Malaysian Chinese Painters In Their Golden Years, an upcoming photography collection and community documentation project.
Through intimate portraits, the photographers Khong and Soon capture not just faces but lifetimes of artistic dedication - revealing the quiet routines, lived spaces, and enduring spirit of over 30 senior painters now in their 80s and 90s. At a time when the art world often focuses on the new, this exhibition shifts attention to memory, legacy, and the individuals whose brushstrokes helped define a nation's visual identity.
Chew Teng Beng's professional career spans art, culture, administration, and education. He is also recognised for his research and influence on papermaking in Malaysia. Photo: Wayfinder Publishing House
The team at Wayfinder Publishing House in Kuala Lumpur, in collaboration with photographers Khong and Soon, have collectively assembled this project. This weekend, the exhibition (free admission, walk-in) at KLSCAH is open 10am-6pm.
Among the many painters featured is Datuk Loke King Leong, now 94, who was once honoured as the Royal Painter of Negri Sembilan. Other notable names include Tan Chiang Kiong (Penang), Choong Kam Kow (Selangor), Tan Puay Tee (Johor), Lee Hock Kia (Sarawak), Chew Teng Beng (Penang), Michael Lim (Sarawak), Tay Mo-Leong (Penang), Cheah Yew Saik (Kuala Lumpur), Khoo Sui Hoe (United States), Chong Hon Fatt (Penang), Gan Sao Wah (Selangor), Jolly Koh (Kuala Lumpur), Tang Hon Yin (Penang), and Yap Hong Ngee (Selangor).
These senior artists hail from diverse backgrounds: seven studied in Taiwan, predominantly graduating from the National Taiwan Normal University's Department of Fine Arts, an institution primarily dedicated to training art educators.
Fifteen artists studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, with most specialising in Western painting. Additionally, 12 artists pursued further formal art education in Britain, France, Japan, and the United States. Notably, some of these individuals continued their studies in cities like London, Paris, and New York after graduating from institutions in Singapore or Taiwan, indicating some overlap in their international training. Four artists are self-taught.
Tan Chiang Kiong, recognised as Malaysia's longest-serving art educator, has dedicated six decades to the field. Photo: Wayfinder Publishing House
Malaysian Chinese Painters In Their Golden Years is not an art exhibition; rather, it presents a photographic documentary exploring the lives and journeys of these senior Malaysian Chinese artists.
Leading up to the exhibition, Chai Chang Hwang, artist-researcher and co-founder of Wayfinder Publishing House, explains that the working team is small and informal, consisting of just three to four core members.
'I handle planning, liaison, and coordination, while the photographers focus on image capture. Others contribute as needed,' says Chai.
The main challenge, he adds, is time.
'Aside from Khong, who's now in his 70s, most of us have day jobs. And unlike established institutions, we lack major funding – so we have to work carefully and resourcefully.'
Photographers (from left) Soon and Khong, collaborators with Wayfinder Publishing House on the book project. Photo: Wayfinder Publishing House
"Initially, our core team – myself included – had envisioned a much larger project. The plan was to begin with artists in the 80 to 90 age bracket, then move on to those in their 70s, continuing in sequential phases," says Chai.
'However, after more than two years of fieldwork across the country, our collective perspectives have undoubtedly evolved. It remains to be seen, but perhaps after this exhibition, we will need to re-evaluate this undertaking (to move forward),' he adds.
The plan is to introduce the Malaysian Chinese Painters In Their Golden Years exhibition to other venues nationwide to raise awareness.
'We acknowledge that our academic background is not in historical research, nor is writing art history our expertise. Our role is to ask questions. From our perspective, this photography and publication project is a creative practice rooted in visual culture, aiming to spark dialogue and, through the photographers' unique visual language, pay profound homage to a generation of Chinese painters who dedicated their lives and talent to advancing Malaysian art,' says Chai.
Lee Hock Kia, an art teacher to many, has a career spanning generations and continues to draw and paint actively. Photo: Wayfinder Publishing House
Yeo Eng Hin, a senior painter and member of the Cultural and Education Committee at KLSCAH, recognises both the challenges of undertaking an independent project like this and the importance of public support – including crowdfunding efforts – to help bring the book project to completion.
'This photo collection is a valuable cultural gift. It documents a generation of foundational figures in Malaysia's art history,' says Yeo.
'Through the images in this exhibition, we hope more people will encounter the spirit of these artists, gain a deeper understanding of their lives, and collectively cherish this shared cultural memory,' he concludes.
A series of public programmes – including artist talks, guided tours, and interactive sessions – will take place through the weekend. The exhibition's opening ceremony will be held on Sunday (June 1), at 11am., with Datuk Lim Swee Tin – National Laureate and member of the National Visual Arts Development Board – as guest of honour.