Calvin Chua Cheng Koon 'Good Morning, Baling (6)' Zuzila Zain 'Lonely I'
2011 Malaysian
| OOI KOK CHUEN
Society (MWS) IT
has largely gone unnoticed, but changes at the Malaysian Watercolour Society (MWS) in terms of vision and management, artistic direction and style, are nothing short of a tsunami. The transition, strangely gradual yet dramatic, at the MWS is a great lesson in the politics of matured accommodation and happy chance, so unlike some of the more bruising battles fought in other art societies. Malaysian politicos notorious for brazenly overstaying their welcome, should take a leaf out of the MWS brand of renewal culture. The MWS changing of the guard was triggered in part by the stepping-down of Dr. Wong Seng-tong, then 71years of age and its supremo/major domo of nine two-year terms since 1992, after the 2010 annual exhibition. It accelerated the changes which Dr Wong virtually 'midwifed' when Ooi Aik Cheong and Yeo Eng Peng were elected into the 2004 working committee, and the next year, the 'Naive' artist Zuzila Zain working because under taskmaster Dr Wong, everyone had to perform their set duties or face the boot. In 2008, Yeo Eng Peng, Chia Seng Chai, King Ban Hui and Lee Weng Fatt joined the top hierarchy. The watershed, if it could be called one, came in 2009 when some of the Old Guards like Khalil Ibrahim and M. Sani Mat Dom stepped aside, while Chin Kon Yit, missing since 2002 because of his architecture-book projects, made a cameo return. Others like Tham Siew Inn, a former vice-president, had been out of the loop for several years.
Khor Seow Hooi 'Chulia Street', Penang
That year saw new members such as Tan Gaik Hoon, Mokhtar Ishak, Khoo Choo Kian, Mohd Nor Bidin, Mohammad Faizal, Tang Mum Kian, Santonie Parson and Tan Suz Chiang, the biggest single membership infusion in the history of the society known for its stringent vetting process and complex ratio of race, gender and territory (region/States). That year too, in March, the indefatigable Cikgu Mansor Ghazalli took part in his last MWS show which he never missed since 1984 (he was a member since1983). Mansor died on June 10, 2009. The 2010 MWS edition saw the parade of more younger members - Lee Weng Fatt, Moy Siew Ting, Loo Hooi Nam, Lee Kee Seng, Ong Shiau Ling, Muslim Mattajim, Tean Wei Jin, Santonie Parson of Sabah, Nanyang Academy of Fine Art stalwart (graduated 1967) Tan Sik Yaw and Shireen Lee Ngar Tee, who is based now in Fukuoka, Japan. 2010, also saw the revival of the MWS Awards with Chia Seng Chai, Khoo Choo Kian and Dr Wong Seng-tong being adjudged the major winners. Also shown were works of two special honorary members Tan Choon Ghee (1930-2010), the legendary watercolourist of street-life, and the American-based Chee Cheng-Khee (who was in Penang from 1948 to 1956, when he was taught by Choon Ghee).
Dr Wong Seng-tong 'Greenscapes"