Impressed by calligraphers who perished on board MH370

AFTER giving a hearty send off to a group of Chinese artists who came to Malaysia to attend an art exhibition organised by him, Daniel Liau was aghast to hear that the aircraft they were in had gone missing.

It was the first journey to the country for all the 24 artists, who were passengers of the ill-fated MH370, to showcase their proficiency in calligraphy, oil paintings and ink art at the “Chinese Dream: Red and Green Painting” art exhibition.

The exhibition was held in Kuala Lumpur from Mar 4 to 6.

Liau said he was deeply saddened by the news of their disappearance as he had formed amicable relationships with many of the artists, who were mostly senior citizens.

The artwork depicting three black roosters left behind by Yao. 

“They were extremely kind-hearted people,” said the 42-year-old exhibition organiser.

Liau said one artist in particular, Zhang Si Ming, made a deep impression on him.

“Her painting style is quite distinctive from the others because it resonated with her jovial and loving character,” he told the Star.

During the art exhibition, Liau had fallen sick, and it was Zhang who had shown concern and kindness by offering to take care of him.

“We were dining at a restaurant once as well, and she noticed that one of the foreign workers there had contracted some skin allergies.

“When we returned to the hotel, she gave me the herbal medicine which she had brought along for the trip and asked if I could bring the medicine to the foreign worker,” he recounted his experience with the compassionate Hunan artist.

Another notable artist was 72-year-old Liu Zhongfu, who was an ambidextrous handicap.

“He suffered from a degenerative disorder which caused him to lose motor functions in both his thumbs.

“He had to tie his left thumb to his index finger while painting on-the-spot during the exhibition,” said Liau, adding that he believed the disorder was due to an accident Liu suffered when young.

Zhu Jun Yan’s painting of lovely peonies. 

He added that Liu was proficient in painting, calligraphy and seal cutting despite his setbacks.

Famous for his prowess in painting chickens, 70-year-old Yao Jian Feng had left behind two paintings of black roosters and prawns.

“Yao had a very thorough understanding and knowledge of a chicken’s movments and body shapes.

“He could draw many pictures of chickens even without seeing them in real life,” said Liau, adding that none of the chickens in all his paintings would look the same.

The only Muslim in the group was Memetjan Abdullah, who hailed from the remote city of Kashgar in the Northwest Chinese province of Xinjiang in China.

“He is famous for his oil paintings and he favours painting sceneries the most,” said Liau, adding that Memetjan had taught painting at a school in Kashgar.

Memetjan, according to Liau, had also won an award for his work during the exhibition.

Some of the more prestigious calligraphers who were on flight MH370 included Li Ming Zhong, whose calligraphy was showcased in the Great Hall of People in Beijing, and Meng Gao Sheng, the leader of the artists delegation visiting Malaysia.

Meng had a calligraphy piece auctioned at the Beijing Poly Art Centre for 207,000 yuan (RM109,112).

Lou Bao Tang and Zhao Zhao Fang, who were husband and wife, were among the Chinese artists at the exhibition as well.

Lou, famous for his calligraphy works, had been included in more than 20 dictionaries published in China, United Kingdom, and the United States, while Zhao’s forte was in painting peonies.

She was the dean of Nanjing Jinling Senior Citizen University’s Fine Arts department.

Exhibiting the artworks left behind by the artists that were given to him as a gift, Liu stressed that the artworks did not belong to him, but to everyone in the world.

The artwork depicting sparrows in a field left behind by Zhang. 

“They were here to promote the magnificence of Chinese art here in Malaysia, and I believe that with their unparalleled reputation, they deserve to be admired and recognised as champions in the world of fine art,” said Liu.

He hoped that the federal government would procure funds for the commemoration of these artists by building an exhibition hall or art museum.

“Aside from showcasing Chinese fine art, we could develop it into an international art museum by garnering a few famous artworks from other countries, as well as from local artists, to celebrate art and encourage cultural exchange.

“This could also help boost tourism in the country,” he said.