Malaysian family showcases over 60 art pieces at Kuala Lumpur exhibitions

(From left): Dr Lip, Kok and Michael spend time painting together whenever possible. Photos: Michael Lip

As a medical frontliner during the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Stefanie Lip – who is based in Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, Scotland – faces a fair share of stress and challenges.

To unwind after a long day at work, Dr Lip turns to painting, exploring different mediums like watercolour, charcoal, acrylic and oil.

“I realised that over the last two years, during the pandemic, it is essential to take care of yourself and have time to relax and rejuvenate. I paint to develop my current skill set, creativity and interest,” said Dr Lip, 34, a trainee in clinical pharmacology, therapeutics and general internal medicine.

“What I like best about painting is that it gives me joy to create something that describes a story or an experience and to inspire others to do the same,” added Dr Lip in an email interview recently.

Dr Lip’s paintings, portraying the experiences of frontliners in a Covid-19 setting, were exhibited at Glasgow’s Art in Hospital charity organisation in 2020. Photo: Dr Stefanie Lip

In 2020, her paintings, portraying the experiences of frontliners in a Covid-19 setting, were featured in Art In Hospital, a charity organisation based in Glasgow. The paintings were created as part of an exhibition to raise funds for the Rest and Relaxation hubs for hospital staff.

“I submitted artwork on the theme ‘Drawing Together’, which helps bring staff, patients and artists together through art. The first Covid-19 wave came with a lot of uncertainty and angst.

“However, it is important to create memories via art so in the distant future, we can look back and tell ourselves we survived the pandemic,” said Dr Lip, who shares photos of her artwork on Instagram.

Dr Lip is not the only one in her family with a love of art. Both her parents – Michael Lip, 73, and Jean Marie Kok, 67 – are also painters and all three of them have exhibited their artworks at the same events.

Dr Lip showcased seven paintings at Art@PavilionKL last December, as well as at Art Deco at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur recently (March 3-6), while her parents exhibited 40 and 16 pieces at the two events respectively.

Michael and Kok exhibited over 50 pieces of their artwork at the Art@PavilionKL and Art Deco in Kuala Lumpur recently.

“My father is very talented and his paintings are one of a kind. I aspire to build up my skills to be like him in my own way. I also would like to acknowledge my mother, who took up painting as her hobby after retiring in 2018,” shared Dr Lip, who has been living in Glasgow for 15 years.

Kuala Lumpur-based Michael is thrilled that his wife and daughter have followed in his footsteps and nurture a passion for painting. He is also very proud that his family members have showcased their creative works in public.

“All three of us have our own distinct genres and styles. Jean is more into the realism of nature and wild animals, painting mainly in watercolour. Stefanie likes abstracts and Impressionism and paints in watercolour and acrylic. I prefer realism and Impressionism, and I am versatile in most mediums, except oil.

“Stefanie is overseas now but when she is at home, we spend time painting together.

“We encourage each other with constructive comments and suggestions on each other’s artworks from time to time,” said Michael, who posts photos of his work on Facebook.

A painting by Michael entitled 'Malaysian Chinese story'.

Michael has been painting part-time for over five decades. One of his earlier pieces was exhibited at the National Art Gallery in the 1960s.

However, he put aside his interest in painting in the 70s to focus on his career and raising three children.

In 2019, he enrolled in painting classes to keep himself updated with the more refined techniques of painting different genres and using various mediums.

During the pandemic, he completed over 80 art pieces in watercolour and acrylic, including Nyonya ware, Malaysian flora, culture and colonial building facades.

Kok, a former advertising account director, revealed that her artistically inclined husband is the one who fuelled her interest in painting.

Kok enjoys the realism of nature and wild animals, painting mainly in watercolour. Photo: Jean Marie Kok

“Art and its application in many things is very central to Michael’s life. I enjoy painting because it gives me a great sense of enjoyment.

“When I paint, there is a delightful relationship between the subject matter and myself. It gives me a wonderful appreciation and new reverence for the subject matter, no matter how simple or ordinary it may be,” said Kok, who trained under award-winning artist Yeo Eng Peng, 47.

Kok also encourages senior citizens to keep active.

“I would liken our body and mind to a piece of machinery. If not oiled and used regularly, it would jam up or rust and eventually cease to perform even the simplest task.

“Similarly, it is advisable to keep the mind active.

“I believe we should continue to explore and engage ourselves in new interests.

“It’s never too late to pick up a new hobby,” she said.