FIFTY-ONE oil on canvas artworks, priced between RM1,500 and RM12,000, are
on display at Balai Berita (main lobby), the office of the New Straits
Times in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

The Sensuous Oriental art exhibition, on until Dec 31, is Soon Lai Wai's
first solo. Born in 1970 in Penang, Soon is a graphic design graduate
(1989) from Saito Academy in Petaling Jaya.

A self-taught artist, he has participated in many group exhibitions
locally and in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Korea, China, England and
Mongolia.

He won the consolation prizes in the National Art Gallery Bakat Muda Art
competition in 1997, Formula Malaysia open art competition award in 2000
and Philip Morris art competition in 2003.

Encouraged by his growing success as an artist, he turned full-time in
2002.

Soon said: "The main objective of painting is to express beauty."

Influenced by traditional Chinese art painting, he chooses the lotus
flower to express his love of art. He grows the plant in his koi pond in
Petaling Jaya.

The lotus best exemplifies Soon's virtuosity and originality and has
become his signature style. The broad leaves, large petals and long stalks
are featured in a wide range of colours and compositions. Soon is also
using a new medium like gasso and pumice - for extra depth and to add
different textures to traditional art painting. His calligraphic-styled
lines of lotus stalks are riveting. He fine-tunes and paints with splashes
of colours to harmonise the layered application of oil paints.

Soon's paintings aim to invoke feelings like serenity and inner calm.

"Calm and harmonious colours always interact and complement one
another," he said.

For his Rockscapes series, Soon shows off the classic Chinese ink
mountain strokes technique.

He plays with the emptiness of space in a scenery or landscape.

For details call 03-7877-3624 (6pm to midnight) or 012-668-1121 (10am to
midnight). Viewing hours: 10am to 6pm (Monday to Friday), 10am to 3pm
(Saturday). Closed on public holidays and Sundays.