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Art
Scene
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W
hat
is it about
watercolour
p a i n t i n g s ,
with its fluid,
e x p r e s s i v e
strokes and
t rans l ucen t
washes on textured paper that could leave
such poignant impressions on its view-
ers? Watercolour renderings of sunsets,
landscapes, flora and fauna, even scenes
of people in the city or
kampung
engaged
in their daily activities can rouse in us,
warm feelings of gladness, fondmemories
of people and places in the past, and also
evoke a sense of romance or forlornness
like the effects of old photographs, love
songs and personal losses.
Watercolour: A Deceptively Simple
Medium
Though watercolour is an elementary
medium that is both affordable and eas-
ily available, it is an extremely difficult
medium to master. Due to its properties
and quick drying nature, its handling
requires certain deftness that comes
from years of practice. A sound grasp
of colour harmony and awareness of its
properties are important because if it is
overdone, watercolours tend to muddle
and deteriorate the paper while marring
Calvin Chua:
were both inspiring for their underlying
message and their technical dexterity.
The multi-coloured strokes and daubs
represent the primal energies that were
generated by the figures as they partici-
pate effortlessly in the ‘flow’ that is life
through the pleasures of play and
joie
de vivre
.
“The styles I employ to my paintings
are not planned or forced, they emerge
when the right time, and mood or circum-
stances present themselves.” – Calvin
Chua
The full-time painter is also an ex-
ceptional exponent of the oil and acrylic
medium. However, his speciality lies
in his ability to capture moments and
render them in an inimitable manner,
which somehowdisarms the more cynical
among us. The mood and the underlying
messages in his works are simple, yet
inspiring with their exuberance and
optimism.
ART VILLAGE GALLERY
B812, Level 8, Block B, Kelana Square,
Jalan SS7/26, 47301 Kelana Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia
03 7880 0991
artvillage@teng.com.my
www.artvillage.com.my
Opens daily from 11am–5pmexcept
Sundays and Public Holidays
Contemporary Malaysian Master Watercolourist
the overall quality of the image.
There are two popular methods of
applying watercolour on paper; the first
being the ‘wet on wet’ and the other, the
‘dry on wet’ approach. Both produce
outstanding effects and moods that are
only limited by the skill and imagination
of the painter.
TheWatercolour Maestro
Noted for his indisputable mastery of
technique and interesting choice of sub-
ject matters, Calvin Chua Cheng Koon
is among the more exceptional veteran
artists specialising in the watercolour
medium today. The veteran painter who
is also an award winning artist with more
than three decades of experience in the
local art scene is known for his keen eye
in capturing the ordinary and mundane
which we take for granted and turning
them into metaphors for philosophical
contemplations and spiritual musings.
Calvin, who is much appreciated
for his celebration of the serene life in
the
kampungs
through his paintings, is
among the handful of local artists who
continue to delight each time he unveils
a new series of drawings or paintings. His
previous series depicting children and
young adults engaged in playful activities
or swimming by the rivers and waterfalls
Calvin Chua -Watercolour Maestro
ChasingWaves