AS MOST struggling artists will tell you, being born poor is no deterrent
to talent!
Liew Choong Ching, 30, is such an artist. It was his love for comics
that drove him to a career in fine art.

He is holding his first solo art exhibition entitled "Strode 30" at the

main lobby of Balai Berita, New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad in

Kuala Lumpur.

Seventy oil-on-canvas pieces, priced from RM380 to RM8,000, are on

display.

The collection includes work that reflects the colourful, multi-racial

society of Malaysia and the daily activities of the Balinese.

Born in Mentakab and raised in Jerantut, Pahang, Liew's neighbours were

the Orang Asli, aborigines who worked as farmers like his parents.

His fascination for them inspired his first "Orang Asli and Golden Soil"

series, which were produced in Jerantut.

After his fine art course at Kuala Lumpur College of Art, Liew painted

part-time while working professionally as a visualiser in an advertising

agency. Since 1993, he has taken part in 14 group exhibitions. He began to

paint full-time in 1999.

Liew said he was grateful to the organising team at NSTP's Studio 31 for

giving him the opportunity to showcase his artwork at Balai Berita.

His sketching talent is strong and he was able to put down the

"staging" element, which involves a basic colour sketch, on Legong

Dancer, without pencil drawings.

He took a week to "stage" the piece.

The "East Coast" series were done at Sabak and Bachok, both in Kelantan.

"Balinese" is a series of paintings of people, culture and customs in

Ubud, Bali while the "Indians" series were inspired by "Balinese"

artwork.

Liew spoke enthusiastically of his one-month stay in Ubud, Bali in 2001,

which was a time for him to explore his talent.

He said: "The majority of Balinese are Hindus and they perform unique

religious dances and practices."

His current solo exhibition also showcases his latest technique of

combining Western medium (oil paint) and such painting techniques as

using the palette knife on Chinese art-influenced compositions.

"Like my favourite Chinese artist, Wu Guan Zhong, in his 80s and from

China, I want to use Western influence in Chinese art," Liew said.

He will donate 50 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of his

paintings to World Vision Malaysia, a non-profit aid organisation that

helps the poor and needy.

The exhibition ends on May 28.

For enquiries, call 012- 6709949 or visit www.artmajeur.com/choongching.