THE Covid-19 crisis has undoubtedly affected many businesses and industries.
As a result of the pandemic, non-profit and charitable organisations have also suffered from the lack of funds to run their premises.
This has prompted local artist Ch’ng Huck Theng to put his skill to good use; mainly to support some charitable homes in Penang.
Ch’ng, who is also an award-winning artist, donated three of his latest contemporary paintings to raise funds for the homes.
The paintings comprised the ‘One Stroke Chinese Calligraphy Painting’ series and mixed-media artworks.
Three avid art collectors – June Goh, Tan Wei Xin and J.C. Ong – purchased the three paintings from Ch’ng, raising a total amount of RM20,000.
The amount was distributed equally to four charitable homes – the Penang Shan Children’s Home, Penang Fo Yi Hemodialysis Society, The Community Chest and Permatang Tinggi Old Folks Home.
The funds were channelled to the respective organisations in the presence of Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in Komtar today.
Ch’ng said that an art is a powerful medium to depict a story.
“We are able to ‘capture’ historical and memorable events via art,” he said.
Ch’ng is also the Penang Art Society president. His artworks were collected by international and local art institutions such as ENSBA in Paris, Shanghai Art Museum, Singapore Art Museum and National Art Gallery Malaysia.
Chow lauded Ch’ng’s kindness towards the needy organisations.
He also thanked the art collectors for helping the charitable homes through their purchases.
Also present were state Tourism Development, Arts, Culture, and Heritage Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin and state Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh and representatives of the homes.
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis