On the way of pursuing dreams, some people give up halfway, while others go forward bravely. Although many people have uncertain views on the art career, there are still many local strugglers who are full of enthusiasm for art. There is art in Malaysia, let us explore local painters and their various colors on the road of art.

KEN OOI

Teacher Huang Zhiqing, or Ken Sir, is an oil painter born in Malaysia. Because of Ken Sir's passion for art, he decided to pursue his dream after high school. Despite the family's financial constraints, Ken Sir did not give up easily. He worked in electronics factories and supermarkets for a year to earn tuition fees. Heaven pays off. After Ken Sir’s hard work, he graduated from the Advertising Graphic Design Department and the Fine Art Department of the Areca Academy of Arts in Penang. In 1994, he also won the Best Student Award of the Department of Advertising Graphic Design.

On the road to becoming a full-time painter, Ken Sir has experienced various challenges. To make ends meet, Ken Sir worked as a children's book illustrator for eight years after college. After various experiences, Ken Sir's works began to be favored in the art world. Ken Sir has won the Penang Outstanding Young Artists Gold Award, the Excellence Award of the Malaysian National Watercolor Creation Awards and the First Setia Outdoor Art Review Award.

In addition, Ken Sir's works have also been collected by Penang Gallery, various private galleries, Bangkok University Hospital, Selangor Teochew Association, private collectors and many institutions in countries such as Singapore, Thailand, China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. . His works have also been included in the permanent collection of the Penang Gallery, the Penang Painter's Guidebook, and appear on the back cover of the Hong Kong Literary Magazine.

1. Flower Township Series – Joy (oil painting)

2. Song of the Moonlight (oil painting)

3. Bright and sunny day (oil painting)

Ken Sir has participated in more than 40 joint exhibitions at home and abroad, including Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Taiwan and other places. During his 30-year artistic career, Ken Sir also held two solo exhibitions, named "Imagery of Color I" and "Imagery of Color II".

Ken Sir is currently a member of the Penang Watercolor Society and a member of the Penang Art Association. He is also the founder and curator of Yihang Art Direction Center, and has curated many joint exhibitions. Through the use of bold colors and lines, Ken Sir's works will always make everyone feel the splendid life. Let us feel the colorful life through some of Ken Sir's recent works!

Tang Yuk Kang

Mr. Chen Yukang is a visual artist who is good at painting and has rich professional experience in design. Mr. Yukang had demonstrated his extraordinary drawing ability in his childhood, which won the praise of many teachers. When he was 14 years old, his works were acquired by a gallery, and at the age of 16, he was awarded the Penang Top 10 Young Artist Award. At the age of 19, he won the Public Finance Art Competition with his work "Malaysian Scenery", and his work was also acquired by the National Gallery of Art.

Although he was born in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Mr. Yukang started his life as a wanderer when he went to the Malaysian Academy of Art in Kuala Lumpur for further studies. With his hard work, he also became the best student of the Malaysian Academy of Arts. Although Mr. Yukang graduated from an interior design course, he chose to teach painting and accept projects because he could not adapt to the 9-to-5 work schedule. Later, he formed a garden design company with his friends, and became a full-time painter in 2010. Recently, he has also traveled around Asia and Europe to participate in painting activities and exhibitions.

In addition, Mr. Yukang has also won many awards. He was at the Castelli Design Award

(Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore) received an honorable mention. He also won the Laman Merit Award at the Malaysia International Landscape & Garden Festival. In addition, he won the Consolation Prize in the 2nd Putrajaya National Water Color Painting Competition and the Platinum Award in the 2nd UOB Painting of the Year Competition. Mr. Yukang's works are also collected by the National Portrait Gallery of Malaysia, Petronas Gallery, Penang Art Gallery, Maybank, and United Overseas Bank. Teacher Yukang also held a solo exhibition called "Urban Stroller".

Since 2011, Mr. Yukang has also promoted the public interest and welfare of the community through art activities. Activities include the 2016 & 2017 George Town World Heritage Celebration, the 2014 Meili Ketam International Art Festival, the 2011 Sasaran International Art Festival, the "Mountain Footprints" Charity Art Exhibition and the famous "101 Lost Cats" street in the George Town Heritage Area art project.

Photo taken from Mural photo citation: http://escapology.eu/2013/10/17/street-art-and-cat-frenzy-in-penang/

Teacher Yukang's enthusiasm and high requirements for art are definitely not to be missed by us. He uses creative painting styles and paints such as charcoal, watercolor and acrylic to capture the charm of characters and the radiance of street scenes. Let us explore the multiple images in life through Mr. Yukang's works in recent years.

1. Bedtime Story (acrylic paint)

2. Memory of Tomorrow (acrylic paint)

3. A Distanced Love (acrylic paint)