Penang State Art Gallery: Beauty in canvas

As published in The Star

Serene female portraits
By JEREMY TAN Photos by RONNIE CHIN and JEREMY TAN


CHINESE artist Li Si Yun specialises in serene portraits of dignified women, and his pieces are much sought after by private collectors the world over.

A collection of 18 such pieces, some of which are valued inthe range of US$90,000 (about RM300,000), are currently on exhibit at the Penang State Art Gallery until Sunday, graciously loaned by private collectors and organisations specially for the show.


Beauty in canvas: Li (left) showing Wong one of his paintings while accompanying him around the exhibition at the Penang State Art Gallery.

Speaking during its recent opening ceremony last Saturday, state Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said it was an auspicious day to launch the exhibition as it coincided with the seventh day of Chinese New Year, which symbolises the birth of mankind.

He added that it was also a great opportunity for Penangites to admire the works of an accomplished Chinese artist like Li, who hails from Sichuan.


My fair lady: 'July Flowers'

Teoh Cheng Jin, chairman of event organisers Pusat Budidaya Cemerlang, expressed hope that the state government would continue its support of the arts and culture, as he believed that a society which only concentrated on modernisation and ignored artistic pursuits was nothing more than an empty shell.

“It’s rare to be able to view Li’s works in an exhibition like this. But due to great demand, he was able to source them from private collections for the benefit of local art lovers,” Teoh said.


Tranquil scene: 'Beauty Fan'.

During the ceremony, the organisation also donated RM2,000 to the Penang Chinese Girls’ High School (PCGHS) Chinese Orchestra, and RM1,000 each to the Boys Brigade Malaysia 17th Penang Company and Warga Emas Pusat Komuniti Penyayang Permata.

Earlier, the PCGHS orchestra treated the crowd to a medley of traditional tunes, with student Tan Yun Han singing several solo festive numbers.
撮合中國畫家
檳畫廊辦畫展

“庚寅虎嘯迎新春文化廟會”撮合中國首位畫家，在檳州畫廊舉辦個人畫展！

這位中國當代實力派油畫家李絲雲是以畫美女見稱，在他今次為檳城人帶來的“古典及唯美”精品集當中，也包括18幅特從個人收藏家方面商借來展出的畫作，而且是展出最多珍藏畫的一次。

黃漢偉指出，李絲雲在2008年喬治市申遺成功時，也曾與另99位國際著名畫家參與在檳舉行的100人國際畫家畫展。

他說，這項由檳州博物館畫廊委員會、檳州英才文化康樂中心與以馬內利畫廊聯辦的畫展，是從本月20日開始至28日在檳州大會堂畫廊舉辦，時間由上午9時至下午5時