NST - August 14th, 2009 : Art: Morphing Colours and Styles
Lim Ah Cheng’s art pieces combine traditional Chinese concepts with modern influences — with stunning results. DENNIS CHUA writes.
ARTIST Lim Ah Cheng’s Chinese zodiac sign may be the Monkey but he has always been fascinated by the speedy stallion.
“I’ve always loved horses. They are swift, graceful and elegant,” he said.
“About five years ago, I visited Xinjiang in China, and saw horses running in a group at a farm. It was a sight to behold.”
The 40-year-old from Klang, who graduated from the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA) in graphic design, has made the horse the focal point of his latest exhibition, Metamorphosis, at Bangsar Village, Kuala Lumpur.
The exhibition, which began yesterday and ends on Aug 23, is Lim’s first solo showcase in the shopping centre.
It features 30 of his mixed-media paintings that combine traditional concepts of Chinese art and modern influences, such as odd-coloured horses in bright red and blue.
“The horse symbolises one’s competitive spirit. It is about daring to be different and striving for a higher goal,” he said.
Lim paints horses in various poses. Some of them do not appear to be running, but flying across the night sky. They even appear to glow in bold and bright colours.
“Red horses symbolise a materialistic quest, while blue ones represent non-conformity. Some of my works contain paper airplanes that seem to guide the horses as they run,” he said.
Besides horses, Lim has also painted two oddly-coloured canines named Black and Yellow.
“They are based on real-life rescue dogs which saved dozens of canines stranded on an island
Lim, the second of seven siblings, has been an artist for 15 years.
“When I was a kid, I loved to draw and animals were my favourite subject,” he said.
Lim also learnt storyboard design and illustration at Tatsun Studio.
He learnt Chinese brush painting from fellow Malaysian artist Chong Chen Chuan.
“Master Chong is noted for his flower-and-bird genre of ink paintings, besides calligraphy,” he said.
“A decade ago, I studied under him for almost eight years. His bold, semi-abstract ink brushstrokes inspire me.”
One of the most telling characteristics of Lim’s style of painting is the blending of colours in contrasting shades that bring out the images.
“When I paint in oil, the most difficult part is mixing the right colour combination to achieve harmony.
“To be able to mix colours to show perspective and character is important,” he said.
Lim was also trained by Dr Jolly Koh, who gave him tips on how to excel in his craft.
“He’s a brilliant teacher. I’ve benefited greatly from his insights on art philosophy and how to make my paintings attractive and visually exciting.”
Lim describes his art as a combination of Oriental identity, reflected in his brushstrokes, and Western medium, reflected in his mixed-media materials.
“I use oil for depth and layering, and Chinese ink for atmosphere, space and imagination.
“Chinese brushstrokes come in handy when depicting galloping horses.”
On his exhibition’s theme, Lim said it referred to a gradual process of change, which is what his art is all about.
“Change is inevitable. One has to change to get to the next level, just as the horses in my works transform from mere horses into magical creatures of speed,” he said.
The exhibition opens daily from 10am to 10pm. Call 03-2287-1908.
Source taken from NST - August 14th, 2009 : Art: Morphing Colours and Styles