SPENDING his formative years living and growing up in and around the small towns of Terengganu, artist Chen Wei Meng has translated his love for the state in his surreal art pieces.
Chen, who is having his solo exhibition entitled Two Three Six, has depicted the beauty of the Terengganu coast in 10 sublime paintings that were a culmination of more than two years of work.
During that period, the artist spent eight months travelling by car, living, eating, and breathing his magnificent home state.
This painting is entitled ‘Kuala Besut 2’.
Armed with over 30 sketch books filled with pages of drawings, over a thousand photographs and a mindful of memories from his hiatus in paradise, the works that Chen has made for this exhibition are overflowing with the spirit and essence of the splendour of Terengganu.
The exhibition’s title, Two, Three, Six (236), said Chen, is the approximate measure of the coastal line of Terengganu, from Kuala Besut to Kemaman in kilometres.
A launch was recently held at the Wei-Ling Gallery in Brickfields where the paintings are being exhibited at.
“As a child, I grew up living and playing on the beaches in Terengganu and throughout my life, I’ve always felt a need to document its everchanging character, moods and vistas,” said Chen.
His dedication to the craft of art-making is commendable, as Chen, in his quest of depicting naturalism in the paintings, went beyond the intention to create Photo Realist images.
The artworks portray highly detailed natural landscapes, which ooze a sense of peace and serenity.
Love for Terengganu: Chen’s love for his home state Terengganu is evident with the effort he puts into every painting as displayed here at the Wei-Ling Gallery.
His painstaking process in ensuring perfection results in the low production of art works, averaging no more than 10 pieces a year.
The gallery owner, Lim Wei-Ling, said the beauty of Chen’s works has to be viewed up close and personal as he meticulously paints each blade of grass and every grain of sand, “in a bid to take us to that place, to show us the absolute purity of this glorious land.”
Chen said as a native of Terengganu, he had a sentimental attachment to the land.
“I am grateful to have the ability to paint, so that I can interpret what I see and feel in my paintings.
“Nature always gives as it only needs a little effort to be aware of it.
“I have an acute sense of the observation of nature and I believe once our heart is quiet and calm, everyone can see the beauty in nature,” he said.
The exhibition runs until June 24.