By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, May 13: Renowned local artist Bong Choo Chew has returned with his first art show in 20 years at the Hoan Gallery in La Promenade Mall, which will be on display from May 13-31.
Hailing from Lundu, 70-year-old Bong said his inspiration for his artwork displayed at the gallery came from nature, which is synonymous with the theme he chose, ‘Dialogue with Our Nature’.
Lamenting the environment’s polluted condition, he said as human beings, we are responsible for caring for and loving the Earth.
Bong told reporters this when met after the launching of his artwork by Sarawak Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting at the gallery today.
He revealed that he is exhibiting over 50 of his artworks, mostly oil paintings, and the price range is from RM3,000 to RM30,000.
Bong disclosed that in conjunction with his 70th birthday, he would donate 70 per cent of the proceeds from selling his paintings to various charities in Lundu, Sri Aman, Samarahan, and Kuching.
“I would like to pay tribute to the late Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wee Boon Ping, who helped me to go to Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore and made me the artist I am today,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ting, who earlier officiated the exhibition, encouraged the youth to take up oil painting as it is both challenging and rewarding.
“Twenty years from now, more or less, no one is going into oil painting. So, I would like the young people to look at (oil painting at) this angle and take (up) the challenge,” said Ting. — DayakDaily
