AT 79, many might consider a life of quiet retreat, but for Selangor-born artist Chia Hoy Sai, silence is a conversation.
His latest solo exhibition, “Sound of Silent”, serves as a profound testament to resilience, capturing the beauty of the Malaysian coastline through a lens that has seen nearly eight decades of change.
The journey to this third solo showcase, happening now at Pinkguy Gallery in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, was nearly derailed by a period of literal and metaphorical darkness.
Two years ago, Chia, born and bred in Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat, underwent two major eye surgeries, leaving him with only 50% vision in one eye.
“I was in a bad mood, and felt lazy to paint,” Chia admitted with the candour of a man who has spent 15 years illustrating school textbooks and decades mastering the precision of portraits and tropical fruits.
However, this solo exhibition exists largely due to the persistence of renowned frame maker WinSon Loh, who is also founder of Pinkguy Gallery.
Loh has tracked the artist’s career for over 40 years, from when he was an apprentice at a frame shop where Chia would sell his oil pastel works.
“Before Internet search engines, we relied on word of mouth from collectors to find the true masters,” Loh recalled.
“He paints figures and still life with such unique skill.
“I knew the Pinkguy audience needed to see the depth of his talent.”
It was Loh who pushed Chia to meet deadlines, convincing the artist that his perspective, even with diminished sight, remained vital.
For an artist famed for his “Harvest” series of tropical fruits and “Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars” portraits, transitioning to landscapes was a daunting technical pivot.
“Studying composition and arrangements was hard.
“It is not just about picking up a brush; I had to learn the rhythm of weather and nature’s changes,” Chia explained.
Living in a village near the beach in Morib, Chia found his “message of healing” in the coastal winds.
The exhibition features 24 works that capture the “jewel-like” qualities of the Malaysian landscape.
In “Kanchong Laut Beach”, Chia employs a sophisticated “wet on wet” technique on unprimed jute canvas – a coarse, natural fibre he prefers for its ability to grip the oil paint.
In “Beach of Tanjung Sepat”, Chia uses cool, bright morning tones to depict the sunrise, while “My Hometown, Tanjung Sepat 1” is bathed in the romantic, calm purple hues that have become his signature.
“Nature is rich in colours. We see it as just bright or cool, but there are layers beneath.
“I use colour to express the mood,” said Chia.
He also said that while he used photographs for reference, pieces like “Lover Bridge, Tanjung Sepat 1” relied heavily on memory because “camera shots cannot capture the true colours”.
Chia said the series was more than an art show.
“It is a meditation on the temporary nature of life.
“Silence allows us to discover who we are in this world.”
Launched by Penang State Art Gallery chairman Lee Khai, the exhibition marks a homecoming of sorts for an artist who studied at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in the late 1960s and spent nearly a decade travelling across South-East Asia to document tribal life.
Today, when he is not in his studio, Chia can be found at his gallery, located at Lee’s Cocoa Farm in Tanjung Sepat.
“Sound of Silent” runs at Pinkguy Gallery, No.51-1, First Floor, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur until April 18.
For details and viewing appointment, call 018-288 8868, 03-2166 2166 or e-mail: pinkguymalaysia@gmail.com
