ABOUT  THE ARTISTS/ BIODATA

YUEN CHEE LING

Born in Penang 1950.  Started oil painting at the age of 13. Prize winner of N. Malaysia Youth Artists Competition (1965-1966). Awarded scholarship by Malaysia Ministry of Culture for Creative Art –USM (1980) and University Scholar- University of Philippines (1983). Graduated BFA (1985) and MFA (1986) Degrees at University of the Philippines, Pursuing her doctoral degree at USM.

Since 1991, she had developed a figurative style of her own to reflect the unique characteristics and spiritual essence of the Pan- Asian women. Her recent Nyonya series is a reminiscence of the old Penang. The day-to day life of the ‘Nyonyas’(womenfolk of the Straits Chinese Baba)  in relation to own her childhood experiences.

Held 14 solo exhibitions locally and abroad and numerous group exhibitions in important national and state museums in Malaysia, Argentina, Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, China, Australia, United Kingdom, USA , Denmark and Korea. Co-founder/Director of Conservatory of Fine Arts since 1987. Initiator of Her Presence In Colours Exhibition -Asian International Women Artists Exhibition series since 1993. Founder cum President of World International Women Artists Council –INWAC since 1999,  which  has established its subcenters in various regions of the world  to promote women’s art through the “Her Presence In Colours” -  International Women Artists Exhibition Series. To date,“Her Presence In Colours series  I-VI were held at Beijing, Penang, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Sheffield (UK).

She has 9 publications to her credit. Over 70 articles about Yuen Chee Ling have been published in magazines, periodicals, news papers and art books.

Her Paintings are in the collection of Malaysian National Art Gallery, USM Museum, Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation Center, Bangkok Metropolitan Bank, Esso, Philip Morris and Pacific Bank.  Over 300 works collected by collectors from Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Denmark, USA, England, Singapore and Japan.

Artist Statement (2006)

Painting is a form of contemplation about life and existence.

After the Tsunami, Bali bom… the colours and the subject matters of my paintings have changed …I only realize this when I use black colour as the background for “Self  portrait 2006”.  “Black” reminds me of the stillness of a starless night when one’s mind is stretching out like arms to embrace the infinite world of empty vastness.

My recent paintings: “Buddha’s mother”, “Praying”, “Adoration and belief” have a religious overtone. My intention is to reflect ‘Humanity, love and peace”. 

To delineate female faces that reflect beauty and innocence is a personal way to celebrate the joy of life and existence.  “Twin beauty” is a two in one portraiture of two natives of different eras. The colourful batik shawl and fan function as symbol of the continuity of Art and culture. To me Beauty and Art is timeless…

源子玲简历

源子玲是马来西亚杰出女画家, 1985年考获菲律宾国立大学艺术学士及硕士文凭。1989年创办槟榔艺术学院担任院长至今.1999年获人理大修博士,目前正撰写博士论文.她的绘画以独创土女图象描绘亚太区女性风貌著称.曾经在国内外举办过14次个人画展及世界各国国家美术馆/画廊展出百余次.作品及个人履历被录入中国档案出版-《朴玉集-二十世纪中国女艺术家作品荟萃》, 曾受中国妇联邀请参加[世界女艺术家成就展].源子玲目前是世界国际女艺术家理事会总会长.主办[她的彩色空间-亚洲/世界女画家系列联展]每年分别在世界各地美术馆/画廊展出.获马来西亚,泰国.英国及澳洲美术馆/文化机构等邀请担任艺术专题主讲人，专栏作家等

Art Educations/ Awards:

1966- Recipient of outstanding works for  watercolour and oil, Northern Malaya Art Competition.

1968- School Art Prize.

1980-81 Recipient of scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to study Creative Arts Certificate Course at University Sciences Malaysia.-

1983-85  Studied at the University of the Philippines, awarded University Scholar Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree(1985)and Master of Fine Arts Degree (1987)

1999-2006- Pursue her doctorate Degree at University Sains Malaysia (USM)

Positions:

Director/Founder, Conservatory of Fine Arts)

Founder/ President of International Women Artist Council (INWAC)

\Advisor Penang Art Society

Founding member of Artgrup Penang

Vice President, Chen Style Taiji Association

Awards/ Honors

School Art Prize
Recipient of Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Scholarship.
University Scholar, University of the Philippines.
Painting entitled “Child of the Sun” selected for book cover of Child of the Sun, Bogle- L’ouverture Publication, London,UK. Biography and paintings featured in Dictionary of the Achievements of World Chinese Artists.,Great World Publishing Co.H.K. Painting and biodata listed in A Collection of Art Works by 20^th Century Women Artists, published by China Documentary &

All-China Women Federation in conjunction with the International Women Convention.

Oil painting entitled “Dressing Up” selected for Reader’s Digest Back Cover Art, April Issue.

Commissioned by the publisher of the Encyclopedia of Malaysia, to do 5 articles for Crafts and the Visual Arts.

Oil paintings “Self Portrait” ;“Golden Season” ; “One Fine Day” published in the cover of The Expat (2000) ,  Hotel ( 2001) ,

Cosmi (2003)

Paintings entitled “Two seated women” and “Silver Charriot Procession” collected by National Art Gallery, Malaysia.
 

Group Exhibitions: 

Participated in more than 150 group exhibitions at the national museums, art galleries and art centers in Malaysia, Argentina, Tokyo, China, Philippines, Abu Dhabi and Taiwan since 1972,  including  the following:

2005-2006

2006  

Penang Teachers’ Art Circle *th Annual Art Exhibition.
Young Contemporary’81, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.

Universiti Sains Malaysia Museum Collection Show, USM Museum, Penang.

Penang Watercolorists Invitation Show, Penang mUSEUM & State Art Gallery

20 Years Retrospective Show, Penang Museum & State Art Gallery, Penang.
Titian II, National Art Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand.

Artist Camp’ International, Penang State Art Gallery

Malysian Art Show, Taipeh Cultural Education Pavilion, also served as curator

Soal Identity, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur. Indonesia/ Malaysia.
Art Exhibition and Auction for the Restoration of the Great Wall of China, Raffles  Convention Center Singapore. (Painting sold)

Malaysian Contemporary Art Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Her Presence In Colours I- VII- Asian/International  Women Artists Exhibitions , Central Institute of Fine Art Gallery, China, Penang State Art Gallery, Suan Prakkad Palace Museum, Bangkok, Thailand, Clock Tower Gallery, UK, Manningham  State Art Gallery, Melbourne and Daegu Art Center, Korea

Asian Modern Art Exhibition, Metropolitan Art museum, Tokyo, Japan.Seni-Pekan Seni Ipoh, Yayasan Seni Perak.

Achievement of World Chinese Women Artists Exhibition, World Trade Center, Beijing, China.Invited by the All China Women Alliance.

Pioneering Spirit 1950 - 1960s, National Art Gallery , Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Malaysian Artists Group Show, Cultural Foundation Center, Abu   Dhabi, U.A.E.

Penang- The Artists’ Paradise, Art Point Gallery, Penang.

Large Paintings Exhibition, Penang State Art gallery. Also  as guest  curator of the exhibition.

Aku-99 -Self Portraits Show, Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Malaysia. Invited as panel speaker for Art Forum on “ Portraiture in Contemporary Art”
Penang Water Colour Society Annual Show. Invited as panel speaker for Art forum: Water Colour Today.

 “Through our Eyes” An Exhibition of Selected Works by Malaysian Women Artists, Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Malaysia.

Enchanting Penang II- Galeri Art Point, Penang

 “Northern Vantage- Artgrup Penang Inaugural Exhibition”, USM AMRO Gallery.

“Into the Mystic” , Verde Gallery, Illinois, USA

“Link: Penang: Beijing-  Artgrup Penang Exhibition”, USM AMRO  Gallery &  Museum of  the China Capital Normal University, Beijing.

Invited speaker for art conference: Contemporary Art In Malaysia, China Capital Normal University, Beijing.

 “Batik- Batik Painting & painting Batik”, Petronas Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.

 “Vision- 3^rd  Artgrup Penang Exhibition”, USM  Museum , Penang.

Art Books /Publications: (selected)
Published 7 catalogues and 2 art books including the recent publication “ Yuen Chee Ling-Paintings ,Portraitures and sketches 1966 – 1999” ( 168 pages-219 paintings in full colours) . 

Paintings and biography are listed in publications: ‘ Dictionary of the Achievements of World Chinese Artists, 20th Century Women Artists-1995 and Back-cover art for Reader’s Digest, April 1997.

More than 100  write-ups and reviews about her art by art writers and critics appeared in the art columns of newspapers and art magazines. Interviewed by TVs of Malaysia, Beijing, Tokyo, Australian and Hongkong.

Museum and Public collection

National Art Gallery

Esso Art collection

Universiti Sains Malaysia Museum Collection

Bangkok Metropolitan Bank, Bangkok

Graduate Studies, University of the Philippines

Escoy Smelting Sdn. Bhd.

Pilam Life Pavillion. Metro Manila, Philippines

Crontline Institute, Denmark

Pacific Bank, Kuala Lumpur

Bank Negara Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Philip Morris, United Kingdom

Cultural Foundation Center, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.

And numerous individual collectors.