28 - 30 july 2021
Nanyang academy of fine arts
Nanyang academy of fine arts
Day 2Thursday 29 July 2021, 16:30
As a Malaysian, the artist has heard a lot of the famous East Coast monsoon, but has never had the chance to witness nor experience its greatness. Kite-making is a culture that has long been practiced in Terengganu, as the local weather allows the right environment and condition to fly kites. Kite is a one of the significant traditional arts & cultural icons that the locals are familiar with, and the artist decided to use this tool as a way to engage with them, sparking conversations surrounding the monsoon. After spending months learning the traditional method of kite-making from the 'Wau' masters in Terengganu, she is currently facilitating kite-making workshops for children in the area, as a way to pass down the culture to the younger generation. As an outcome, she will be developing contemporary artworks out of research-excursion and workshops.
Cheng Yen Pheng (b.1982)
Cheng Yen Pheng's (b.1982) works are intimate and autobiographical and reflect upon the struggles of life-the difficult decisions, the reconciling of realities, and the overcoming loss.
And despite the uncertainties and the unknown outcomes, what has been a constant, is her unrelenting determination to uphold what she believes in, and to adhere to those principals. On a trail-blazing path as one of the country's most provocative and brave contemporary voices, Cheng Yen Pheng left a mark on the local art scene, when, as a finalist in the National Art Gallery's Bakat Muda (Young Contemporary) 2014 competition, she stood up for her work entitled ABU, which courted some controversy and was censored from being shown during the final exhibition. Her outspoken, honest, and determined approach towards her life, is mirrored in her art journey.
Her materials and choice of medium are varied and diverse, and reverberate with the provocative messages intertwined within them. This deliberate use of different mediums and textures, are intrinsic to her work, as they act as metaphors to emphasize her state of mind and feelings that she can only convey through these forms.
She was the Grand Prize winner of UOB's Painting of the Year in 2019.