‘Heritage’ artist Tan passes away at 80

GEORGE TOWN: Renowned artist Tan Choon Ghee, best known for his works on Penang heritage buildings, passed away on Tuesday. He was 80.

Tan, born in 1930, also gained fame for his drawings depicting the street life and sea views in Penang.

His nephew, architect Daniel Yap, 50, said Tan did not consider his art as a means to make money.

“His works were an appreciation of what he saw, which he was able to transform to life through his paintings such as the pre-war buildings,” Yap said.

Galeri Seni Mutiara curator Koay Soo Kau recalled that he first met his friend of nearly 40 years when his father handed him a catalogue of Tan’s work.

“I was attracted by the beautiful jetty and seaside sceneries of boats in the harbour, and it was phenomenal how a whole generation of water colour artists was inspired by his unique style,” Koay said.

Penang State Art Gallery chairman Datuk Tang Hon Yin said Tan was a very private person and was not often seen at exhibition openings.

He added Tan did not produce many oil paintings as water colour was his preference, but the deceased was equally good in both mediums.

The gallery held a retrospective exhibition in June 2000 which features more than 80 of his paintings.

Tan started painting at 13. He was trained at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art in Singapore from 1949 to 1951. He furthered his studies from 1957 to 1959 at the Slade School of Fine Art in London.

The cortege will leave from the Mount Erskine funeral parlour today at 11am for cremation at Mount Erskine Crematorium. Choon Ghee leaves behind his wife, Kam Hai Sim.