KUCHING: Growing up, Imelda Meredith Chee enjoyed drawing and watching Disney movies during her free time – she is a big fan of fantasy and fairy tales.
Her love for Disney movies has only got stronger with passing time which has subsequently influenced and inspired her style and way of creating art pieces.
“All these are reflected in my artworks, most of which are whimsical, colourful and surreal,” she said.
Being a Sarawakian, the digital illustrator also incorporated her experiences, feelings and knowledge of the state’s colourful culture into her creations, producing a range of products to promote the beauty and uniqueness of Sarawak.
“By adding Sarawakian elements into our creations, we can produce many beautiful and unique works.
“I also hope to inspire more young people in Sarawak, including myself, to contribute to the art field and take this venture to international markets,” she said.
Speaking to the New Sarawak Tribune recently, the 26-year-old artist shared that she obtained a Diploma in Animation and Multimedia Design at Limkokwing Institute Borneo after finishing secondary school.
She worked for a non-profit organisation for two years, where she edited videos and short documentaries about Sarawak’s indigenous people before deciding to resign in 2021.
She ventured into creating art pieces as a career full-time and eventually founded Wonderland Studio early this year, a business focusing on spot drawing, illustration design and creating Sarawak-themed cultural products such as keychains, stickers, postcards, canvas bags and phone grip holders among other things.
On pricing an art piece, Chee said, every artwork is priceless and each creation is a labour of love for an artist. Therefore, each artist defines their pricing method; while she tends to tailor the price to fit the customer’s budget and create suitable artwork for them.
Digital Art vs Traditional Art
Although digital art is not yet widely recognised in Sarawak, where traditional art forms are more valued, there is growing awareness and understanding of such art.
In addition, with the advancement of time and the rise of non-fungible token (NFT) art, Chee believed that more people in Sarawak will come to appreciate this art form in the future.
NFT art refers to digital assets stored on a block chain that represent content or even physical items; it allows artists to sell or rent their artwork beyond the physical world.
Digital art, she explained, allowed for limitless use, where she can create multiple designs and products based on the same illustration. On the other hand, traditional art is unique and cannot be reproduced, making it more precious.
Apart from that, digital art enables quick revisions and corrections without the fear of ruining the original, while traditional art requires a lot of time to modify or create a new piece until it is satisfactory.
Chee said digital art is not inherently simpler just because it is created using digital tools as it still requires time to find inspiration and develop a unique style.
“Personally, even though I often use digital tools for my creations, I still start with sketching on paper. Learning digital art also demands a solid foundation in painting.
“Both types of art come with their own challenges and difficulties,” she said.
What’s next?
Moving forward, Wonderland Studio has set a five-year plan, where Chee aims to travel across Sarawak before heading to Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia to promote Sarawak cultural products.
She hopes more Sarawakians, Malaysians as well as foreigners and tourists will understand and appreciate the uniqueness and beauty of Sarawak.
“This is because one of the challenges I faced in my artistic journey is the lack of appreciation and limited recognition of art in Sarawak.
“Thus, I will continue to promote and share what I love and what I think is worth sharing (through my artworks),” she said.
Chee also said that before establishing her studio, her dream was to study abroad, learn about the art development histories of other countries, and see how local artists incorporate their own cultural elements into their works.
However, due to financial constraints, the plan is currently on hold.
“What I hope is that the Sarawak government and society will value Sarawakian artists more and if possible, provide art funds, grants and scholarships to support local artists in their pursuit of further education and in return to develop the art field in Sarawak,” she said.
