LOT 35
ANTHONIE CHONG
B. Perak, 1971
Untitled
Signed “Chong” on lower right
Oil on canvas
91 x 91 cm
Provenance Private Collection, Kuala Lumpur
RM 12,000 – RM 24,000
Born in Perak in 1971, Anthonie Chong studied at the Chinese Independent School. It was during his studies that he was exposed to Chinese calligraphy and cultural motifs in art. He then advanced to the Perak Institute of Art where he obtained the knowledge of Western art history and other art ideologies such as social realism. He had his first solo exhibition at X-pub & Gallery in Penang and have had more in years after.
Anthonie Chong often expresses his paintings based on experiences of the difficulties and predicament of living in the globalised and digital age. He is known for his famous works inspired by ‘Narjar’- a tale based on a Chinese legend about a brave child- which in turn produced the e-monk series in the year 2000. The series tackle issues with regards to living in a technocratic era and through the series, he amalgamates Eastern techniques in his works. He also transgresses a recollection of childhood memories in his paintings. ‘A spiritual release and desire for eternal peace’ was the main narrative of the e-monk series. In 2008, the Gaia series was produced, mused by nature in which he then focuses on the elements of nature such as fire, earth, water, wood and metal.