Description
This poetic painting presents a powerful abstraction of natural motifs infused with velocity of movements, focusing on the spatial interaction of forms with colour. The composition is an integration of dense elements utilising broad gestural brushwork combined with soft brushing of layers in an emotive colour palette of blue, green and pink, each stroke portraying individual weight and volume. Nature serves as a dominant inspiration for Yeoh Jin Leng, whose work expresses concerns for the environment from an ecological point of view, reflecting lush tropical terrains and visual cultures of Southeast Asia.
Yeoh Jin Leng received his training education at Kirkby, Liverpool in 1953 and was the First Malaysian Federal Scholar of Art who furthered his art studies at the Chelsea School of Art, London, United Kingdom and London Ministry of Education, London University. As one of the key drivers in the development of art in Malaysia, he has held various positions in art education and organisations such as Lecturer in Art Education at the Specialist Teachers' Training Institute, Kuala Lumpur (1963-1968); President of Society for Art Promotion (1974-1983); Founder-Member and Vice-President of the Malaysian Artists' Association (1982-1984); Dean of Studies at the Malaysian Institute of Art, Kuala Lumpur (1984-1994); and Member of the Board of Trustees, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (1989-1991, 1994-1997).
His solo exhibitions include Art And Thoughts 1952-1995, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (1996), My Pride And Joy, Jinleng's collection of Asian Ceremonial Textiles, NN Gallery, Kuala Lumpur (2006) and Stirring Odissi, International Oddisi Festival Art Exhibition, Petronas Art Gallery (2008). His awards include Special Prize for Painting, Salon Malaysia (1969), Prize for Painting, Tokyo Biennale, Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan (1969) and Australian Culture Award (1990). His works are represented in institutions such as National Art Gallery Malaysia, Singapore Art Museum, NUS Museum Singapore, Bank Negara Malaysia Museum And Art Gallery, and Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Cornel, Ithaca.