Cheah Thien Soong is a celebrated artist born in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. He graduated from Chung Hua High School Seremban, Malaysia, in 1959 and NAFA, Singapore, in 1962. Cheah trained in Chinese ink and Western painting under Nanyang pioneer artists Chen Wen Hsi, Cheong Soo Pieng, Chen Chong Swee, See Hiang To, and Georgette Chen, teachers who profoundly influenced his artistic sensibilities. He furthered his studies and received his doctorate from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in 2002.
In this fan painting, Cheah depicts bamboo trees from a close perspective. The Chinese ink painter uses the brushstrokes’ bristled texture to evoke the bamboo shoots’ layered exteriors. This technique provides a clear example of the artist’s judicious use of the calligraphy brush. Looking closely, the artist also paints birds perched between the bamboos, giving the viewer a unique perspective of the scene. Natural landscapes, flora and fauna are typical in Cheah’s oeuvre and reflect his philosophical beliefs of Tao. This Chinese philosophy promotes knowledge obtained from everyday life.
