Lot 03
CH'NG KIAH KIEAN
b. Penang, 1974
ST. GEORGE CHURCH, PENANG, 2009
Signed in Chinese, dated and titled ‘莊嘉強 2009.7.25
St. George Church, Penang' lower left
Graphite on paper
27cm x 75cm
PROVENANCE
Collection of The Art Gallery, Penang
ESTIMATE RM 3,500 - 4,000
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A trained architect, Kiah Kiean has recently begun his foray into artistic endeavour. Now an artist and designer, he has had a multitude of solo exhibitions showcasing his drawings and illustrations, including ‘Ch’ng Kiah Kiean Solo Exhibition’ in 50 Humanist Space (2000) and ‘My Sketches Diary’ at Ching Lotus Humanist Space, ‘Line-Line Cerita’ at Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang as well as his most recent solo show ‘Sketching Memories’ (2009) at Art Accent Gallery in Kuala Lumpur. He is a member of the Penang Watercolour Society as well as the Calligraphy Association of Penang and a participant in the Penang State Art Gallery committee. His works are collected by Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, Penang State Art Gallery and Galeri Seni Mutiara.
Having a natural affinity for buildings especially old shop houses and heritage structures, Kiah Kiean started doing sketches of these constructions almost a decade ago and these continue to be the subject of most of his works. Although we do not see many artists who devote themselves solely to sketching, Kiah Kiean believes that the interplay of lines, shades and shadows are qualities that are imbued with a depth and complexity that is connected with fine art. His background in architecture has definitely instilled a deep-rooted understanding of structures that allow him to view these environments in novel and fresh ways.
Meticulous in showing the interaction between space and object, Kiah Kiean chooses certain elements to emphasise, exaggerating certain lines while excluding others to accent distinct parts of the landscape. In his sketch of St. George Church, it is possible to see the passion and skills Kiah Kiean has for using positive and negative space to portray a scene. With bold strokes and wiry style, he manages to inject a quirky and lively character to his architectural subject matter.
EXHIBITED
Line-Line Cerita, Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang, 2009
REFERENCE
2009 Sketches of Pulau Pinang
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