By Karen Bong
KUCHING, March 23: An artwork called ‘Flora and Fauna of Borneo’, measuring 9.84 metres long—nearly three stories high—painted on a single scroll by lifelong artist Bong Shin Siong and believed to be one the largest ever drawn in Malaysia, has been unveiled today at Hoan Gallery in La Promenade Mall.
The official unveiling and special preview of the watercolour masterpiece, featuring at least 132 species of birds, flora, insects and animals, was organised for Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Impressed by the fine detail and careful brushstrokes that bring the artwork to life, Abdul Karim suggested it should be procured for display at the to-be-developed Sarawak Art Gallery in the future.
Bong, 58, who resides in the coastal fishing village of Lundu, spent nearly a year completing the work, drawing from photographs and his photographic memory.
Species like the pen-tailed treeshrew (tikus kayu in Malay), terrapin, file-eared tree frog, porcupine, pangolin, Borneon peacock, pheasant, rhinoceros hornbill, rafflesia and many more are depicted in great realism.
“In my younger days, I had the opportunity to witness hornbills and other wildlife roaming around freely in Lundu. These are my fond memories,” he told reporters.
He is a second-generation artist who considers his father, the late Bong Sho Min, as his first teacher.
From a young age, Bong displayed talent in completing intricate oil paintings by his early teens. That, coupled with his photographic memory and deep appreciation of nature, has led to a lifelong passion for painting the natural world.
Gallery director Hoan Kee Huang emphasised that this masterpiece could be one of the most important works ever completed in Sarawak and of Sarawak.
“In fact, this could be one of the region’s most outstanding—truly a showcase of Borneo’s natural beauty,” he said.
Hoan praised Bong as a true artist who paints from a lifetime of experience admiring nature. “He paints for himself. Outside of artists’ circles, Bong is not well known, but that is only because he does not chase fame. His art is amazing and speaks fully of his enormous talent,” he added.
While the gallery plans to put the artwork on public display soon, Hoan however pointed out that due to the size, they have to work with local craftspeople to design the frame and hang it up properly.
Hoan and Bong both said they wish to see the artwork in a permanent public gallery soon. “This piece deserves to be in a museum. As artists, it is all our dreams for Sarawak to have an art gallery and for it to contain treasures like The Flora and Fauna of Borneo,” Hoan said.
At Hoan Gallery, Abdul Karim also viewed a solo exhibition, ‘Hidden Gems: The Life Works of Chong Liew Syn’, which highlights works by the founder of the Sarawak Fine Arts School.
Chong’s show is the 2024 season opener at the notable gallery, which last year also hosted Alena Murang’s Colour of the Highlands solo show. For more info, visit hoangallery.com. — DayakDaily
