Education
Pei Wah Primary School, Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia
The Singapore Chinese High School, Singapore
The Christ Church English School, Singapore.
The Alliance Française, Singapore (Learning French)
L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris
Career
1954-56
School Teacher in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia
1957-59
Devoted full time to painting, and travelled widely throughout the Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.
Feb., 1959
The first Malaysia / Singapore artist recipient of the French’s Government Scholarship to study art in Paris Art Academy.
Established his first studio in Paris at 20, Rue du Sommerard Latin Quarter-Sorbonne
1959-1962
Studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris Art Academy.
Moved studio to Montmartre in October, 1960 at 28, Rue de la Charbonnere.
1961-1962
Met French art critics and writers Jean Gerard, Marcel Clavie, D. Israel.-Meyer, Andre Treves, Pierre Imbourg.
Worked at "Place du Tertre", became the committee member of the “Association de L' Artistes do Montmartre"
1962
Returned to Malaysia on February 21st.
1962-1963
Art Supervisor at The Penang High School, Penang as well as being adviser to various artist groups in Penang.
Exhibitions
(a) Group Exhibitions
1951
Paintings were first publicly exhibited at the YMCA Art Group Exhibition and the Singapore Art Society Annual Exhibition at the age of 15 years old.
1951-1976
The Singapore Art Society - Annual Local Artists Exhibitions.
1956
Participated in the “Ten Years of Art in Singapore,1946- 1956” organized by The Singapore Art Council
1956
His work "Early Morning" was purchased by the Rt. Hon. Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, the British High Commissioner to the South East in April.
1957
Exhibition in Sydney, Australia.
1958-1961
Took part in the National Art Gallery Exhibitions, Malaysia.
1959-1962
Works selected in the Fifteen Grand Salon Exhibitions in Paris, at
“Salon des Artistes Française"
“Salon des Nationale”
“Salon d'Automne”
“Salon des Indépendants”
“Salon des Berruyer, Bourges”
“Société des Artistes de Montmartre”
1962
Paintings of Malaysian Artists Exhibitions toured major cities in India.
1965
“The Frank Sullivan Private Art Collection”
1966
“Johor State Artists Exhibition”
1971-1972
Pesta1971 and Pesta1972 Art Exhibitions, Pulau Pinang
1974; 1981;
Asean Mobile Exhibitions (Kuala Lumpur; Singapore; Jakarta; Manila and 1983 Bangkok)
1975
Pamiran Lukisan Perpaduan - National Art Gallery : Balai Seni Lukis Malaysia,1957- 1975
1977
The Singapore Chinese High School Old Buys' Association Art Exhibition, Singapore.
1977-1984
National Art Shows - National Art Gallery, Malaysia.
1982
“Modern Malaysian Art, 1930- 1981”
1983
25th Anniversary Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Malaysia.
1984-1985
Took part in several art exhibitions in Singapore and Malaysia.
April, 1986
Representing Malaysia to exhibit works at the “3rd Asian Art Biannual Exhibition” in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
(b) One-Man Shows
April, 1956
Held the first one-man show in Johor Bharu in aid of the South Johor Chinese Schools
Teachers’ Association Building Fund.
1957; 1963; Singapore
1978; 1980;
1984
Malaysia
1956; 1979 Johor Bharu (Johor)
1958; 1962; Kuala Lumpur / Selangor
1989
March 1958; Penang
May 1958;
1961; 1969;
1972; 1979;
1989
1966; 1978 Ipoh (Perak)
1979 Alor Setar (Kedah)
Europe
1959 “Galerie de Villiers” Paris, France
1960 “Salon de Paris” Paris, France
1960 Hanover, Germany - Under the sponsorship of the German Government.
1960 London, United Kingdom - Under the sponsorship of the Malaysian High Commission.
1961 Madrid, Spain
Asia
1960 New Delhi; Calcutta; Bombay; Madras, India
1972 Bangkok, Thailand
Major Works in Permanent Collections
The National Art Gallery Malaysia
The National Art Museum, Singapore
The National Library, Singapore
Penang State Museum Art Gallery, Penang, Malaysia
The University Sains Malaysia
The University Hospital Malaysia
The People's Republic of China
The National Art Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
Osaka University of Commerce, Japan
Osaka Railway Station, Japan
Grand Palais, Paris, France
The Foreign Ministry, Paris, France
L'Hotel de Ville, Paris, France
The London University (Oriental and African Studies), United Kingdom
New York Art Gallery, New York, USA
Boston Art Gallery, Boston, USA
Sonnenberg International Centre, Hanover, Germany
and, under numerous others private collections throughout Asia, Europe, Africa, America and
Australia
Mural Commission
Grand mural “Life in Malaysia” for the Malaysian Embassy, Paris, France commissioned in
January 1962.
Awards
Mention Honorable of the “Salon des Indépendants” and “Société des Artistes Français”, Paris.
Publication Credits
“University of Malaya Art Museum, Singapore - Dr. Michael Sullivan in 1959
“Les Arts” Paris July, 1959 - Dr. Israel-Meyer
“Le Peintre, Paris” September, 1959 - Andre Treves
“The Sphere” London October, 1960
“Art News and Review” London November, 1960 Cottie Burland
“Journal de l'Amateur d'Arts, Paris1961” - Pierre Imbourg
“La Revue Moderne, Paris” 1961 - G. Baba
“The Chinese Art of 20th Century” England, 1965 - Dr. Michael Sullivan
“Contemporary Artists of Malaysia” 1971 - Dolores D. Wharton
“Who's Who in Malaysia, 1975-1976” - J. Victor Morais
“International Who's Who in Art and Antiques” Cambridge, England, 1976 - Ernest Kay
“Modern Artists of Malaysia” 1983 -T. K. Sabapathy and Redza Piyadasa
“The Artists Review” Taiwan November,1984
“The Artist” Hong Kong, February 1985
Judge of Art Competitions
1984-1988 Judged the “Young Contemporaries Art Competition,1984 organized by the National
Art Gallery, Malaysia, and invitation to judge for numerous art competitions since 1963
Major Portraits Commission
Nov.,1959 Commissioned to paint the portrait of YAB Dr. Lirn Chong Eu (The Chief Minister of Penang)
Aug.,1967 Sketch of The Tunku Abdul Rahman (The Father of Malaysia )
Aprll,1977 Life size portraits of Dato & Datin Mohd. Zamani bin. Abu Samah (Chief Police of Johor, Malaysia)
Jan.,1979 Portrait of Mr. Bjarne Zachariassen ( Director of Sweden ALFA-LAVAL Far East Sdn. Bhd.)
Feb.,1984 Portrait of Dr. C. C. Too
Main Media
Oil, Water-colours, Pastels, Ink, Chinese brush and others
