Wong (right) accepting her certificate from Jennifer during the launch of the 8th Sabah Women Art Exhibition at the Sabah Art Gallery.
KOTA KINABALU: Wong Chung Oi, 78, Chau Kwai Fong, 77, and Chau Kwai Hing, 64, are living testaments that it is never too late for art.
In the past, they had to leave their interest in art to focus on marriage, family and adulthood.
It was not until 2006 before the trio, then aged 69, 68 and 55, crossed paths when they started exploring that interest by enrolling in art classes with a private tutor in Kota Kinabalu.
There they not only developed a friendship but also ignited an innate talent in art.
Today, several of the trio’s oil paintings are sold between RM2,500 and RM3,500 at the 8th Sabah Women Art Exhibition in the Sabah Art Gallery (SAG).
“I have always been interested in art. At the time (2006), I was just too free at home so I started learning and then I met these two ladies,” said Wong.
“When I started, I would say it was like a child’s drawing. We paint but don’t take it too seriously. Maybe we take around six weeks to finish one painting,” she added.
The trio’s exhibited oil paintings are mainly inspired by Sabah’s nature.
“Sabah has a lot of beautiful scenery and local scene. We would like to take time to paint it. Nature is good for our character and it is a kind of nurturing for our personality. When you look at nature you can see the beauty. When you see it you really like to capture what you have seen,” elaborated Wong.
“Art can really nurture our soul just like music. Even a person who is deaf and dumb can still do art. I think it has changed me into a more quiet and peaceful person because we can express ourselves through art. The thing that we cannot express with words can be expressed through your artwork.
“More of our younger people should start developing their talent in art so they can discover their potential and be part of the growing artists in Sabah. Just like us we start quite late but we still keep on… Artwork is forever. There is no age limit, and time limit,” she added.
Some 113 mix media art works of 40 women artists from Malaysia, Japan and Germany are featured in the Sabah Women Art Exhibition between July 10 and October 16.
“In just a few years these ladies have been able to paint and I am quite amazed at their level and the quality of art work. Every single thing that we do individually makes a difference and I believe women must do something about art,” said SAG Curator and Manager Jennifer P Linggi at the Kupi Kupi Seni (Art Coffee Talk) at the SAG Conservation Centre here on July 30.
“Actually I never do things as a woman but rather do things because I am me. But I am told that although female artists have been involved in making art throughout history, their work has often not been as well acknowledged as that of men.
“Women artists still face challenges due to gender biases in the mainstream fine art world. While the statistics reveal that women artists are still outnumbered by their male counterparts, there is at least an improvement on the situation. We, at the Sabah Art Gallery, therefore are proud to continue to improve the under-representation of women artists through this eagerly awaited annual exhibition,” she added.