Let's play a game.
In 10 seconds, name three famous Western painters in the world.
Names like Van Gogh, Leonardo Da Vinci and Pablo Picasso probably come easily to mind.
But what if the tables are turned now and we ask you about the most famous painters in Malaysia instead?
Finding it hard this round?
In this article, we will review the background history and achievements of some Malaysian painters in the local art industry.
Embracing The Diversity Of Malaysian Painters Over The Years
First, let's learn more about Malaysian painters who have left their imprint through their memorable paintings and contributions
Latiff Mohidin
Born in 1941, Latiff Mohidin is known as one of the modernist painters in the country. At a young age, he showed tremendous talent in art and was offered several scholarships to further his studies in Berlin, Paris and New York.
Upon graduation, he began to travel around Europe and Southeast Asia where he developed an awareness about the relationship between regional elements and modern art. He coined the phrase "Pago Pago", believed to be an anagram from the word pagoda during the 1960s.
His painting style is often expressive, layered, bold and has a combination of symbolism and abstract textures. His artworks have been exhibited at several art galleries and museums locally and abroad.
In 2018, he made history by being the first Southeast Asian artist to be honoured with a solo exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Source: Selangorkini
Cheong Lai Tong
Next, we have another amazing talent in the local artistic landscape. Born in Guangzhou, China in 1932, Cheong Lai Tong moved to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1937.
Like Latiff, he was granted a few scholarships to pursue his art education in the United States and London, having shown promising artistry at a young age.
He became a household name in Malaysia when he designed the large frontal mosaic murals — Episodes of Malayan History and Malayan Crafts and Craftsmen for the National Museum in 1962 after winning a competition.
Subsequently, Lai Tong had a 30-year career in the advertising industry and later focused more on exhibiting art in the 1990s.
He passed away at the age of 90 in 2022.
Syed Thajudeen
Born in 1943, Syed Thajudeen is one of the most celebrated painters in the country.
He spent his childhood and schooling days in Penang and was initially sent to India to pursue medicine but he later chose to study art.
As a young artist, he was open to experimenting with many art techniques and movements such as surrealism, and expressionism and later came out with his signature technique —the cave effect inspired by Jataka cave paintings.
He had a short teaching stint at the Mara Institute of Technology (now known as UiTM) in 1974 and worked in the public relations department of a bank as he continues to be involved in many exhibitions.
His artworks have been exhibited around the world, which centre around spiritualism, romanticism and literature.
Yeoh Jin Leng
Born in 1929, Yeoh Jin Leng is undoubtedly one of the most prominent artists in the country. He grew up in Ipoh and later majored in art at the Malayan Teachers College in Kirby, Liverpool. He was then posted to Kuala Terengganu for his first teaching stint.
As an avid traveller, he had travelled to countries like Austria, Switzerland and Italy to explore different aspects of Western art.
He has showcased many of his paintings at various exhibitions including Ricefields, Blue Sky Landscape, Pregnant Earth and many more. He played a significant role in bringing awareness and advocating art education in Malaysia.
Discover more about the versatility of different painting mediums.
Pioneers of New Art Movements and Styles In Malaysia
You'll be surprised to learn that many Malaysian painters are not only talented, but also innovative when it comes to developing new art techniques, ideas, and movements.
Now, let's get to know two painters who pioneered new art techniques in the country.
Chuah Thean Teng
What comes to mind when you think of a representative fashion pattern in Malaysia?
You'll surely think of batik, right?
Well, Chuan Thean Teng was the first ever Malaysian artist to develop batik as a painting technique. Originally an owner of a batik factory, he began to experiment with the traditional batik-making process and incorporate them into different art mediums.
Apart from batik painting, he was also an active painter of various landscape and portrait paintings, which perfectly encapsulate the soul of the kampung community, including the way they lived and fashion at that time.
He passed away in 2008 at the age of 96 in Penang.
Source: rawpixel.com onFreepik
Ibraham Hussein
Born in 1936, Ibrahim Hussein is another talented Malaysian artist who devised a new painting style which combines printmaking and collage — known as printage.
He furthered his art education in Singapore and later in London. Over the years, he expressed his artistry with the printage technique to add new dimension and depth to paintings.
Most of the inspiration for his paintings is drawn from his immediate surroundings, the local culture and nature.
He was a strong advocate of the development and advancement of art and culture. Sadly, he passed away in 2009 after suffering from a heart attack at the age of 77.
Master various painting techniques as a beginner.
Campus Art Resurgence — The Eyes of The Soul (MATAHATI)
Most of the painters that we have talked about earlier played a pivotal role in the Malaysian art industry during the Roaring 60s and 70s period.
A new wave known as the MATAHATI collective began to form in the late 1980s, transforming the landscape of Malaysian art, where we see new art expressions in shaping the country's contemporary art scene.
MATAHATI stands for Malaysian Artists' Action Unit and embraces self-expression and exploration of diverse themes, especially when it comes to stimulating dialogues and pushing boundaries of artistic pursuit.
It was started by five UiTM students and the collective solidified when they graduated together in 1991.
The five main key figures of the MATAHATI art movement include:
- Ahmad Fuad Osman
Fuad is best known for his installation and figurative painting which revolves around social changes and local culture, even the political arena.
- Ahmad Shukri Mohamed
Shukri's abstract paintings explore themes of political history and personal narrative. He remains a vocal social and art critic today.
- Bayu Utomo Radjikin
Bayu's works depict a diverse range of human emotions, and also the human anatomy, being painted with bold painting techniques to create a dramatic viewing experience.
- Masnoor Ramli Mahmud
Some of the key trademarks of Masnoor's works include the usage of symbolism and context. He also dabbles in other art media including sculpture and photography.
- Hamir Soib Mohamed
Known for his keen contemporary painting style, Hamir Soib often incorporates monolithic surreal canvas and contemporary calligraphies in his artwork.
Today, the five of them are still active in the local art scene.
Step into the world of amazing painters from different art movements in history.
Unconventional Local Artists That Capture Our Hearts and Minds
Art in any form, holds the power to impact and evoke a wide range of emotions.
Whether it's through creative artistic style or unique storytelling methods, some artists and artworks can immediately hold our attention.
That said, here are three Malaysian artists that you should check out.
Red Hong Yi
Most of us would remember Red Hongyi's shot to fame when she painted a large portrait of former basketball player, Yao Ming in 2012 with basketball dipped in red paint.
Born in Sabah, Hongyi studied architecture in Melbourne before moving to Shanghai. She later explored her career in art after she gained popularity after sharing her artwork on YouTube using unconventional materials such as coffee cup stains, chopsticks, and flowers instead of using a brush.
She is currently based in an art studio in Kampung Attap, Kuala Lumpur.
Source: The Star Online
Adam Ummar
A self-taught visual artist, Adam usually goes by his pseudonym Univorso in the art scene.
His artwork focuses on the themes of psychology, culture, and emotions. One of his latest artworks released in 2023 centres around the awareness of mental health, particularly, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).
He was chosen as one of the National Art Gallery Malaysia's Young Art Entrepreneurs in 2020.
Kenji Chai
Kenji is a street artist who is known for incorporating distinctive style and intricate details in his murals.
Growing up as a young boy who loves doodling, he has come a long way to become an established graffiti artist and muralist. You can find some of his murals in Brisbane, Shanghai, Penang and many other places.
In 2018, he earned a place in the Malaysian Book for Records for crafting the nation's tallest mural (at a 25-storey building) in Kuala Lumpur.
Where Can You Learn More About Malaysian Paintings and Art History?
Thinking of visiting an art exhibition in the future?
There are many established art galleries and museums in Malaysia that you can explore during your free time. Some examples include the National Art Gallery, Ilham Gallery, Wei Ling Gallery and Penang State Museum and Art Gallery.
If you are considering a more interpersonal experience to learn more about art history and even painting techniques, we would encourage you to sign up for some fun art lessons at Superprof to have a basic overview of painting.
With the help of an experienced art tutor, you can have a comprehensive learning experience, both theoretical and practical.
The best part of learning with Superprof? You can personalise your lessons according to your learning pace, learning level, preferred hourly rate and even learning specialisation.
Just head to the Superprof Malaysia homepage and start browsing the tutors' profiles to book your first art lesson!
We hope this article has offered you a beautiful intro to the amazing gems in the Malaysian art industry.
"Painting is self-discovery. Every good artist paints what he is." Jackson Pollock
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