Explore the vibrant world of Artavern, a collaborative space uniting artists David Chew, Angelina Bong, and Ng Paik San in their passion for creativity.
A hub for creative collaboration
Explore the vibrant world of Artavern, a collaborative space uniting artists David Chew, Angelina Bong, and Ng Paik San in their passion for creativity.
In the rise of trendy co-working spaces, people are creating changes and starting studio co-ops, where they can pitch in to rent or purchase studio space and run it together.
Indeed, some artists are choosing to focus their cooperative efforts on sales and gallery spaces. By putting together a co-op gallery, they can reach more people and potential buyers than they could if they were just showing their works on their own.
To build collective power, three artists residing in Kuching have created a co-working art gallery to expand their opportunities as artists and to continue their passion for art.
Artavern is a bright and modern studio on Level 3, La Promenade Mall, in the Kuching suburb of Kota Samarahan. It was there that we met the tall and slim abstract expressionist David Chew, who is now sharing the gallery with two other artists.
When asked why he decided to co-op into a creative space with others, he explained, “I decided to move my studio (previously in Jalan Mendu) to La Promenade for varied reasons. One is my vision from 20-plus years ago to have a studio right outside my residence. Living nearby, it will be more motivation to create artworks. Because when inspiration strikes, travelling a long distance will kill off the mood.”
He added that he was also inspired by the legendary artist Raffles Scott Abang (Sarawak), who had a big studio next to his house, which motivated him to own a studio near his home.
The La Promenade mall approached David, and he initiated the Artavern project because of his other vision to have a creative space for sharing, nurturing, cultivating, and promoting arts and other creativities.
“It can be a sharing studio for others, and collaboration projects or a creative space for groups of people or corporations to hold an out-of-the-box meeting or any lifestyle events,” said David.
When asked who his biggest artistic influencers were, he gave credit to his former art teacher, Chong Liew Syn, who taught him Impressionist art and laid the foundation for his art knowledge and skills.
Jackson Pollock (USA), an Abstract Expressionist, was also an influence. “His type of art moves me into abstract expressionism, and when I started as an artist, I modelled after his action painting,” said David.
Angelina Bong, who is into lingual arts and an international poet and author, is also a modern artist using multi-media in her expressions, including beading.
She said, “I wanted a space to focus on my painting and writing as well as to run workshops. All this while, I have been teaching in random spaces, people’s houses, cafes, and since COVID, mostly online. I feel it is time to have a proper space to do all these. The space offer came very timely.”
The sweet Angelina feels that Artavern has a superb location as it is near her home in Kota Samarahan. Being next to Hoan Gallery is also inspiring, as she can easily pop by and be inspired by other artists at any time.
She chose to be part of this gallery because the other two artists are friends whom she has known well from the Sarawak Artists Society (SAS).
David was the President in 2017 when Angelina first served as a secretary, a role she held until this year when they both “retired” from their positions, and she was appointed as the current vice-president.
After working with him on many art projects, she sees him as someone with integrity, reliability, entrepreneurship, and a passion for the arts.
She also has this to say about their co-sharing partner Ng Paik San:
“When I joined SAS in 2022, we grew closer, and I admire her passion for beauty and art, and her positive outlook on everything. These are the values that I admire in my partners, who are also now my good friends.”
Paik San is a watercolourist, born in Ipoh, Perak, and presently residing in Kuching. Her art lessons started when she was only 10 years old, with her mother driving her to Madam Zhou Yan Mei’s house every weekend for an art lesson. She studied with this art tutor for about nine years before leaving Malaysia to pursue her tertiary education in Australia.
“Madam Zhou is a great artist who taught me all the basic skills and drawing techniques for watercolour,” said the thankful Paik San.
Inspired by the beauty of flowers as well as the natural environment on Borneo Island, her watercolour paintings focus mainly on still life artworks. Some of her sketches also focus on the beauty of the old streets surrounding Kuching city areas.
The co-founder of Ingenious Language Centre, and presently a freelance lecturer, Paik San stresses, “Painting is always a pleasurable task in my life, and I hope my drawings can deliver love, peace, and passion to those who have seen or own a piece of my artworks.
She has been participating in many art exhibitions around the Malaysia region, and one of her artworks, titled “Heavenly Glory”, was featured in Tatler Malaysia for the July 2023 issue. She is currently an active member of SAS and the Malaysian Women Artists Association.
Artavern Art Space held its official opening ceremony on May 2. The opening saw Angelina reciting a poem dedicated to Artavern. It was a successful opening that saw many friends supporting the three artists.
Sarawak Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, and Batu Kitang assemblyman Datuk Ir Lo Khere Chiang were also present to give their support for the arts.
