Ong Hieng Fuong's new artwork titled 'Grandma Afraid We Are Starving' (watercolour on paper, 2022), which is part of his debut exhibition 'That Day, I Was Sketching On The Street’ in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: Ong Hieng Fuong
If you had asked Ong Hieng Fuong a few years ago, where he would be today, he would have never guessed he would be back in his hometown of Tanjong Sepat in Selangor, a small fishing village he grew up in.
“I didn’t expect that I would be stuck in my hometown for more than two years because of the pandemic. Although I initially felt frustrated, life still has to go on.
"As my friend said, perhaps the pandemic is a window to another possibility. It made me try a lot of things that I have not tried before,” says Hieng, 27, as he is better known.
He is currently pursuing his degree in fine arts at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. But the artist, majoring in printmaking, has not been able to return to the campus in China because of the lockdowns and border closures.
'That Day, I Was Sketching On The Street' (poster colour on paper, 2021), which also serves as an artist self-portrait. Photo: Ong Hieng Fuong
Despite the delays to get back to studies in Beijing, the past two years have nevertheless been a busy one for Hieng.
During this time, Hieng finished a six-month residency at arts space Rimbun Dahan in Selangor, experimented with new media and printmaking styles, participated in group exhibitions, and now, is proud to present his debut solo exhibition That Day, I Was Sketching On The Street at The Back Room in Kuala Lumpur.
Capturing life's moments
“I feel lucky because I still can continue my career although the world has changed too much in these few years,” he says.
Hieng's keen sense of capturing moments of life can be witness across That Day, I Was Sketching On The Street. There are 20 artworks in total, all scenes from life - from Tanjong Sepat to Klang - that are meaningful to him. The works are rendered in vibrant poster colour and elaborate woodcut.
'I am not trying to capture a moment in time; I have no real attachment to these memories. I think of them instead as conversations. I’m not so good at talking, see, and I speak to moments this way,' says Hieng about his debut exhibition. Photo: Ong Hieng Fuong
“I chose these scenes because these moments give me a deep feeling. For example, a series of strange encounters I had during the flood in Klang in late 2021, inspired me to paint the scene in The Flood. In Grandma Afraid We Are Starving, I painted my grandma’s food (home cooked spread) in front of me and my brother, depicting, in an exaggerated way, the love my grandma has for her grandsons,” he elaborates.
A chaotic and interesting piece is Hieng’s Bukit Bintang, with all the familiar landmarks of the area ...yet not quite. The Christmas Winter Wonderland installation in front of Pavilion last year, with animals gathered around a fountain, is immortalised in this artwork, alongside buildings called 'Paviloon', 'Starhole' and 'Fahrenhigh 88'.
“This came from my experience of travelling to Bukit Bintang during Christmas last year ... I remember the heavy traffic, high-rise buildings, billboards and people with face masks going about their day. I injected some humour into the artwork, a satire on the daily life of contemporary society which is totally affected by capitalism. There is no denying that capitalism has brought people great convenience, but I am just sick of changes brought by rapid development and business supremacy,” he laments.
'The Flood' (poster colour on paper, 2022). Photo: Ong Hieng Fuong
He hopes that audiences will take time to examine these artworks closely and discover the hidden details.
“They can find some humour or interesting things in the works. And of course, if they can see the deeper meaning and reflect on the impact of contemporary society on us, it would be great,” he says.
At the moment, Hieng has his sights set on creating a new batch of work which will be different from his previous creations, as he believes that an artist should explore every possibility presented to him.
“I am a curious person and always want to try and learn new things. It is quite boring for me to use the same medium and style, so maybe I will try oil painting, acrylic painting and wood engraving next. I find a kind of happiness when I challenge myself or learn new things, which motivates me to explore more and more,” he says.
Back on track
Hieng is also preparing for his online art school classes which will start in September.
“According to my lecturer in China, the situation in Beijing is quite good now. I wish to continue my studies as soon as possible. However, I will not be able to go back till further notice from China and as I am no longer able to defer my studies, I have to accept online classes to continue my semester,” he shares.
'Bukit Bintang' (poster colour on paper, 2022). Photo: Ong Hieng Fuong
It is obvious that Hieng values his time spent away from home, despite considering himself a small town boy at heart.
“Spending time abroad has changed my perspective of my youth and the world around me. My lecturers and classmates in China inspire me with their attention to detail and their attitude towards learning. They teach me that I should be modest and understand that no matter how high you go, there is always someone who is better.
"From them, I also learned that I should not limit myself to Tanjung Sepat or Kuala Lumpur, I should keep improving and expand my horizons. For me, living in a different culture and environment has truly broadened my mind, no matter the art technique, knowledge or the social perspective,” he says.
‘That Day, I Was Sketching On The Street’ is on till July 31 at The Back Room at the Zhongshan Building, Kampung Attap in Kuala Lumpur. More info here.
