ARTIST Chen Wei Meng’s visual journey of panoramic images featuring wide plain landscapes stretching into the distant horizon takes him to the town of Sekinchan in Selangor in his latest solo exhibition.
Titled “Sekinchan: Land of Fertility”, this is Chen’s fifth solo exhibition, comprising 22 acrylic-on-canvas pieces that feature scenes of the town’s vast paddy fields during the harvest season.
Although Chen’s signature art style creates highly realistic images of landscapes akin to photographs, his subject matter is a far cry from the vibrant and colourful shots that one would expect from the average photographer.
His pictures, some illuminated by greyish-blue skies, often feature gravel paths, muddy patches, barren fields, and elements that most people would generally consider ordinary and otherwise unattractive.
But this is all part of the artist’s personal style to take his art to a whole new level of realism and introduce the world to the beauty that he sees in seemingly ordinary places; captured in a particular point in time.
“People may not like the muddy look. They feel it spoils the composition or that it is ugly. But at that point in time, that’s what it looks like,” said Chen, 51.
He tries to capture the essence of his subject location by painting the atmosphere the moment he sees it down to the last details through keen and precise brush strokes.
This focus on bringing out the realism of his subject, he says, is not a style of his choosing, rather it is something that he feels and tries to put to canvas as accurately as possible.
Chen, who was born in Terengganu, did many paintings on scenery in his home state before venturing out to other parts of Malaysia in previous exhibitions.
His last solo exhibition took him overseas to north-east China, where he studied and painted the contours of the mountainous and rocky landforms of the area.
He said that in each of his destination, he chose to paint locations with which he had a strong sentimental connection.
“I always emphasise that the places that I choose are like my dear friends that I want to introduce or portray to the world through art,” said Chen.
He often takes photographs and makes sketches to use as reference, but it is only through the painting of the picture that he is able to foster a sentimental connection with his subject.
His fondness for wide open plains with vast skies are evident in all his collections, from paintings of coastal fields to keen depictions of the atmosphere during the monsoon season.
Chen’s first visit to the remote paddy fields of Sekinchan was at the end of 2007, and when he began working on this collection early last year, he said the emotion was akin to revisiting an old friend.
Chen said he arrived at the town in a state of weariness, but taking in the sights of the large paddy fields away from the bustling city rejuvenated his mind.
He added that he finds peace in recording the details of his subject in sketches in his art journal, which details meaningful moments in what he calls his visual journey.
Pieces of Chen’s Sekinchan collection can be viewed at Wei-Ling Gallery, No 8, Jalan Scott, Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur until July 30.
For details, visit www.weiling-gallery.com or call 03-2260 1106 or email weilinggallery@gmail.com
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
