LOT 28
CHANG FEE MING
B. Terengganu, 1959
Morning in Terengganu, 1989
Watercolour on paper
74 x 54 cm
Acquired from Galeri Wan in the 1990s
Label on verso from Galeri Wan
PROVENANCE
Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
RM 30,000 – 55,000
Chang Fee Ming captures the quiet charm of a traditional Terengganu setting through a carefully observed architectural detail. A white staircase decorated with delicate motifs rises against the composition, while a potted plant at its base introduces a touch of natural life. The simplicity of the scene is elevated through the artist’s sensitive handling of light, pattern and subtle tonal variations, creating an atmosphere of stillness and warmth. Born in Terengganu in 1959, Chang Fee Ming is a self-taught artist who began his career in the early 1980s and went on to become one of Southeast Asia’s most acclaimed watercolourists. His early works were deeply rooted in the people, landscapes and traditional way of life of his home state, subjects he continues to revisit throughout his career. His mastery of light, texture and intricate detail, together with his extensive travels across Asia, has given his watercolours a distinctive sense of place and poetic realism.
Morning in Terengganu is an intimate example of his early engagement with the architectural and cultural character of his homeland.