Story by K.H. Ong
MOTHER nature has always been close to the heart of Penang artist Dr Grace Choong Ai May. Thus, it comes as no surprise that her current 15th solo art exhibition at the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) of Penang from yesterday till the end of this month is themed “Garden Jewels”.
A prolific artist who paints almost every day, Choong has also taken part in over 200 joint exhibitions in various countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, China, Thailand and the United States.
She has come a long way, 28 years since holding her first solo in 1990 while she was still studying at the Malayan Teachers’ College. Later while she was teaching, she worked hard to obtain her degree, Masters and PhD in fine arts from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
“I’m always inspired by nature and its creation. I painted the subject of orchids during my first solo exhibition. Today, my horizon has grown,” Choong told a 70-odd member crowd comprising guests, friends, fellow artists and visitors at the opening day of her exhibition yesterday.
“I hope more people will learn to appreciate art and to do art. Art is not merely for one to look at. It makes you think and ponder about what is connected to you.”
Among those present were Penang Butterfly Farm founder David Goh, who was also the guest of honour, Penang Chinese Brush Painting Society president Ung Tin Kean, Yahong Art Gallery director Chuah Siew Teng and some of her art students from SMK Air Itam.
Goh, who officiated the opening ceremony, had only words of praise for her.
“I’m honoured to be invited to officiate her latest solo exhibition, known as ‘Garden Jewels’. I like the word ‘jewels’ as I used to call my butterflies as the ‘jewels’ of the insect world,” said Goh.
“Beauty always bring joy to human beings. Grace Choong’s “Garden Jewels” with her signature of vibrant colours and broad bold brush strokes have certainly generated a lot of soothing energy that sets off the feeling of freedom of life and happiness.
“She draws in endless inspiration around her house garden as well as nature outside that a lot of her past of watercolour works and today’s acrylic paintings were created with truthfulness and sincerity.”
Every few years, Choong will go to Europe for sightseeing and take the opportunity to snap photographs or do on site sketching.
“Most of the time, I shoot photographs. When I come back, I use them as reference for my paintings. I’m always fascinated by the scenery in Europe but I don’t know why I don’t get so inspired when I visited China a couple of times,” Choong said.
“I’ve always dream that I can display my solo artworks around the world. I had exhibited them overseas in group exhibitions, but I hope someday I can do it solo.”
Her first solo exhibition at the Art Gallery in Hutton Lane which was opened by architect Datuk Lim Chong Keat, the brother of former chief minister Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu, gave her a breakthrough. She recalled that it was her father who brought her artworks to the gallery before she was accepted by the gallery to do solo.
“I’ve been doing what I’m passionate about but opportunity does not come knocking at your door. So later on, I initiated it. As an artist, you can’t just sit at home. You may paint hundreds of them but how do people know?”
Early this year, Choong jumped at an opportunity after a friend offered her to display her Peranakan artworks solo at the Jen Hotel. Her friend was given the ballroom to sell his Peranakan materials but he did not have so much merchandise to fill the space.
“He said he wanted to have all things Peranakan. I happened to have this collection ready. So, you see that was an opportunity,” said Choong, a fifth generation Baba Nyonya descendant herself.
For her current solo exhibition, Choong said she approached Penang PAC after having seen her friends exhibited their paintings there.
“I’m lucky that they sponsor me the space. They’re very kind and this place is very beautiful and air-conditioned. If not, I cannot afford it. I am very lucky,” she said.
On display are 18 smaller paintings (60x60cm), titled such as “Purple Vanda”, “Red Helicornia”, “Ginger Torch” and “Flower Power”, mostly priced at RM3,800 and 13 bigger paintings (80x100cm, 100x100cm, 100x150cm), like “Sunflower”, “Europe”, “Spain 06”, “Hibiscus” and “Sleeping Beauties” priced from RM6,000 to RM9,000. Most are acrylic paintings and a few are oil paintings.
In conjunction with the International Women’s Day this year, Choong organised a joint art exhibition for 24 women’s artists, including herself, at Penang PAC. On the last day, she and five other artists gave a free talk and slide shows about their artworks.
Apart from her parents (Choong Chong Keat and Lily Khoo), Choong’s interest in arts as a young girl was stirred by a retired teacher from Chung Ling Private School, Tan Chiang Kiong, 85, who recently was presented an award for teaching over 50 years.
“He does not just impart his skills but also is a very encouraging teacher. Some teachers will tell you to better study something else, not art.”
Taking a leaf out of his mentor’s book, Choong now encourages her students at SMK Air Itam to enjoy art.
“Today, people go for creativity. Everything is about creativity. You don’t have to go out and work, you just need to work from home if only you can create something by yourself. You can sell it online, you can publicise it, promote it online … and a lot of things you can do.
“So, creativity is the in thing. It’s not about Science and Maths. Our education system has been talking about Science and Maths. They don’t get it. Even in schools, Science and Maths teachers are looked up at whereas Art teachers are secondary. That’s the perception in most schools. They don’t understand.
“It’s about creativity. Smart people only can do art. When you look at a painting, it’s not about the colours or whether it’s pretty or not. It’s about the ideas behind it.
“You see, some can study very well. But when they come out, they cannot work. They don’t know how to socialise. These are not creative people.”
Choong’s current solo art exhibition runs daily until Aug 31 from 10.30am to 6pm.
