Art with a local touch

Like to have painting lessons and/or obtaining art with a local touch, we got the artist that fits your needs… 

Award winning artist Yeoh Kean Thai

Interview: Trui Knijnenburg

Introduction

Yeoh Kean Thai 

At last, I’ve found the painting teacher and class that fits my needs whilst being ‘a new kid on the block’ in the world of painting. Every Monday I am getting out of my comfort zone when having our painting lessons/sessions from Thai. The good news is, according to Thai, “there is always room for art, all is takes is finding the right day and time for us to simply enjoy art making. Your interest is my responsibility.”

After many months of having painting lessons of this very humble, sympathetic, and professional teacher, I found out that Thai is a well-known painter too. Once in a while he shared some of his works, his ideas via our WhatsApp art group and just before the lock down, we – our group of 3 students – were invited for the opening of his solo exhibition. That opened the eyes a bit.

Thai being humble, needed to be googled, to find a bit more about him. Now I realize that I’m having lessons of the winner of the Philip Morris Art Award, Freeman Fellowship (Vermont Studio) and most recently the prestigious Commonwealth Arts Award. His style is described as ‘a unique aesthetic language using metal and metal aesthetic’.

In the interview below you can get some insights in knowing Thai a bit better in case you might be interested in having art lessons from him and/or like to understand a bit more about his art work whilst considering a to buy a painting from this well-known local artist. You can contact Thai on the following number +60 12 2590319

Thai, your artistic talent was spotted when you were already working as an enumerator, from there on your career changed, what happened?

I was working as a part-time enumerator with the statistic department in Penang, where my department head spotted my artistic talent, and he insisted that I needed to enrol in an art school and learn the proper development for art. I was then more interested in design, but after completing my foundation for art, I opted for fine art. Even during high school, I somehow ended up taking painting subject where I was praised by my art teacher as promising painter. I never took painting seriously though as my aim was merely for the grad. I can say that it was like my destiny to be involved in art. After completing my diploma in fine art, again I was lucky to be spotted by someone in the art industry that provided me with a platform to continue pursuing making art as a career. My luck again, when I, as a greenhorn painter started during the early 90’s the art industry was booming locally. It was only for a few years of success that eventually the art market became more challenging. I started to teach part-time to supplement my desire to continue painting.

My drive to do art until today is that once I started my art theme, I never seem to find the conclusion and it keeps me going, deeper into the subject. It may be the passion that drive me on, not for achieving success but mere satisfaction once a painting is completed.

You’re know for your unique style. Expats, are often looking for a ‘local’ touch. Can you tell me what is your ‘local’ touch in your work?

Art is universal, but I do inject localness and sensitivities as primarily my subject involved the environment that I was confined to, and how I brought the subject to represent the current situations we are facing and challenged. Since I use only local images to narrate my art intention, I do study or based on my life experienced to depict them, and localness was my main visual language.

The localness outlook for my painting was the object and colours. The objects that I use must be identified as part of the local culture or heritage with colours easily recognised or experienced by Malaysian. I believed if we tried hard enough and with conclusive studies, the local touch will be felt.

Phased Transformation Series

Did it ever happen that someone ask you to paint something, a special request? What do you think of that and would you be open for that?

Yes, I do get some commission paintings, and it depends on their requests whether it suits my art style and intention. If it aligns to them, then I will have no problem seeing to their requests. Anything beyond my objectives, I can do it if I don’t place my signature on the work. It can be like a professional lending his workmanship for a course. It is again the bread and butter issue we artists are confronting but with certain restrictions to maintain professionalism and responsibility to collectors.    

“Never be arrogant for what we possess, but finding the balance is the way to resolve what is deem satisfactory for all parties.”

Where are your challenges in your work as a painter?

Challenges are aplenty for me as a painter, but I always find ways to resolve them. It starts with space, a studio where I can create comfortably. So, without a big space, I try to be organised. Once the painting process is completed, the expose and marketing to reach out to art patrons. Here I must engage an art dealer to handle the exhibition and transaction. I can’t deny my weakness in business and have to trust the right person for a win-win situation. The main challenge that was beyond my control is the market sentiment. Art is not a necessity, so a robust economy does help to keep us going as a painter.

When can we expect another exhibition and in case people like to see more of your work, how can they get in touch with that? 

For most practicing artist including me expects an exhibition the soonest the better. I can create enough for a solo exhibition; then again, I have to convince my art dealer with my works, to make sure they are excellent and conductive for the market. I am consistently painting though while waiting for the right moment, and with technological advancement, my work can be visually view with just a direct phone (HP:012-2590319) request. I can direct them to available online platforms to view and understand my arts. Once identified the painting, the physical work can be view either at my place or the assigned gallery, depending on the where about of the target. 

I know you as my painting teacher, what skills do you need to have to be an art teacher? What are the challenges?

I always make sure that I am exposed and capable to handle all styles of painting, most type of major mediums, technical abilities and being modest, truthful that art is subjective. I must not dictate but allow individual creativity to flow, for them to be expressive and enjoy the process of art making. The challenges are to constantly update my art knowledge, to maintain the joy of creating and to inspire them. A teacher joy is to see that we are all into art for the positive vibes.

What can you offer those who might be interested to follow painting classes?

I can offer my absolute best and everything I know about arts, with no restriction. Everything has to be in the open, even to the specified request and arrangement of learner. To get started, the basic requirement (tools) need to be educated whereby the process of art making will be shared and guided. The styles and expression will be individual liking to make them owned their creation. I can be a fellow art friends and not a master to dictate. Art must be a journey of enlightenment for everyone.