Showcase in KL celebrates art and scholarly contributions of 85-year-old artist
An exhibition featuring Dr Chew Teng Beng is being held to honour the 85-year-old’s colourful life and brilliant artistic achievements.
“A Retrospective: Chew Teng Beng — Life, Art and Writings” is organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) at Wisma Kebudayaan SGM in Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.
Born in Terengganu, the award-winning artist, scholar and pioneer’s professional career spans the fields of art, culture, administration and education, making important contributions in various aspects.
In 1967, with the support of a Fulbright-Hays scholarship, he pursued his art studies at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in the United States.
Later, in 1972, he returned to Malaysia under a special invitation by the Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Penang and helped establish its fine arts programme, the first in the country under a national university at that time.
He was also the first Malaysian recipient of the Australian government’s Cultural Award in 1978.
Chew often drew inspiration from nature and emphasised the exploration and expression of colours in his artworks.
His creations not only showcased the beauty of nature but also conveyed profound reflections on spiritual beliefs and philosophical considerations.
His unique artistic style served as a testament to the fusion of art and life, injecting greater depth into the history of Malaysian art.
One of Chew’s most important contributions to art in Malaysia was his research on paper making.
He pioneered the use of fibres from the residues of selected local bananas and pineapple plants for making paper by hand as a medium for artistic expression.
This initiative aimed not only to protect ecosystems and the environment but it also advocated waste utilisation, which helped farmers and fishermen establish home-based handicrafts for extra income.
He received his Doctor of Philosophy from University of New York in 1987 for his dissertation “Paper Making from Selected Malaysian Fibres: An Investigation of its Artistic Potential Through Creation of Original Artworks”.
The paper is a significant academic contribution to the fields of environmental sustainability and rural community development.
This exhibition focuses on three significant areas of the artist’s body of work.
The ground floor at Wisma Kebudayaan SGM displays creations from the 1950s to the 1980s, covering the artist’s early works from drawings, paintings and prints to handmade paper.
On the mezzanine floor, selected handmade papers from local indigenous plant fibre produced for his dissertation will be on display.
On the first floor, his abstract paintings and paintings on paper pulp from the 1990s and 2020s respectively are on show.
The exhibition will be held until Feb 4, from 11am to 5pm (closed on Mondays).
Admission is free.
For details, visit harmoni-soka.org/
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