Raymond Tiong, an admirer of Chinese-style painting, dedicates his life to perfecting his art.
Painting the best view
Chinese art is gentle yet meaningful. It is simple to understand and appealing to the eye.
The colours used are often soft, but the story behind them strikes the loudest.
Its precision drawn using a calligraphy brush allows its artist to create a detailed painting.
The earliest records of Chinese art date from the Han Dynasty (202 BC) to the Tang Dynasty (618-907 BC). During this time period, Chinese art took the shape of human figures.
After the Tang Dynasty, the paintings shifted to landscapes, bird-and-flower themes, and other motifs.
It was usually presented on paper or silk, mounted on hanging scrolls, folding screens, and others. Today, the art evolves while maintaining elements from its roots.
Raymond Tiong, a gentleman with a foundation in Western art, who hails from Sibu, Sarawak, is one of many who admire Chinese art.
We recently met in his exhibition at Chemsain Art Exhibition ‘The Repurposed,’ which is being held at its building till September 30.
Tiong, a Fine Art graduate from Singapore’s Nanyang Academy, enjoys painting Chinese art in his spare time.
Using the technique from the painting style, he paints the local culture and sceneries.
“Every day, I enjoy observing how different individuals work.”
Tiong recalled a time when he visited Bario and encountered fisherman fishing by the sea.
“Their tools were what caught my attention. Unlike most modern fishermen, they were still fishing in the traditional manner. I was fascinated by how modernism had yet to affect them,” he said.
The 70-year-old would usually sketch on the spot. “Then I’ll go home and arrange the composition. When I’m finished, I’ll copy it onto the paper I’m working on.”
When asked how he knew when and what to paint, Tiong said he does it when he sees scenery that he thinks would look good on paper.
“The primary subject must be highlighted. The secondary subject, which is the background, must be capable of complementing the primary subject. Together with the colours of the subjects and the distance between them, I know what would look nice on paper.”
The difference between Chinese art and Western art
Western art usually uses elaborate colours, whereas Chinese art appears softer at first glance.
Meanwhile, Western art allows the viewer to imagine, but Chinese art is often straightforward. Tiong said that the difference between the two is the tools used.
“We normally use a soft calligraphy brush for Chinese art. This means that if the strokes are not properly controlled, they might be quite complicated. Western art tools, on the other hand, consist of the normal paint brush, which is more rigid in comparison.”
Tiong said that while painting a subject, the canvas in Western art is usually entirely coloured. In Chinese painting, the artist can leave out blanks whenever he/she feels like it.
Never satisfied with an artwork
Tiong, who is also Chairman of the Sibu Contemporary Art Association (SCAA), has painted countless masterpieces over the years.
Despite his vast experience with the brush, Tiong admits that he has never been completely happy with a painting.
“When an artist paints an artwork, the viewer sees it as a single painting. However, for the artist, that painting represents his/her artistic journey.
“Painting is only one part of the process. It would take the artist a lifetime to learn how to improve it. I have yet to find a painting that I am happy with. If I paint today and am pleased with it, I will find something lacking in it the next day. This is because my artistic standard rises with each improvement,” he said.
Tiong is continually learning new techniques as he develops knowledge of them.
“I learned about art from my art teacher in school and university when I was younger. Then, every now and then, my friends and I would organise or participate in an exhibition. That’s when we’ll be able to learn from one another. We now have communication devices and social media to stay in touch with one another. Learning has become easier,” said the artist.
In the future, he plans to hold a personal exhibition of his best work. Tiong and the members of SCAA will also be organising a joint display.
Whatever his future holds, rest assured that his paintings are always improving.
Every detail of the stroke he brushes on represents his journey since the day he decided to hold the brush.
