Artists give their impressions of Olympic host

By OH ING YEEN

WITH the Olympics around the corner, artworks inspired by the Games, host city Beijing and Chinese culture are on display at the City Art Gallery, Jalan Ampang until Aug 3.

The Ni Hao! Malaysian Pre-Beijing Olympics 2008 Art Exhibition features art pieces by 38 artists and calligraphers who went to Beijing and experienced the excitement of the preparations for the Games.

Artist Lim Ka Sing wanted to capture the impressions of awe-struck visitors and the steepness of the Great Wall through his oil-painting Great Wall Ju Yong Guan.

“It took me three weeks to paint it as I had to add layers to the painting,” he said.

The sun rising over Mount Hua in Lok King Wah’s Chinese ink painting symbolises that the Beijing Olympics will shine on the world.

Rising sun: Lok hopes that the Olympics 2008 will shine its rays over the world.

“I did not paint it at the spot as the impression that I had watching the scenery there was enough for me to come up with this painting,” the 78-year-old said.

He added that he used the Li Shu style of calligraphy to accompany the painting.

It took artist Cheah Yew Saik four days to finish his oil painting entitled Under The Propitious Clouds.

“I chose to paint the Tian An Men Square as I think it best represents China,” he said, adding that it was his first trip to Beijing.

Chinese ambassador Cheng Yong Hua believed that Malaysians would know more about Beijing, the Olympics and understand Chinese culture better through this exhibition.

Capturing the mood: Lim captured the awe-struck expressions of those who visited the Great Wall for the first time.

“The Beijing Olympics will provide a platform for all athletes to compete and is an occasion for people of different races and colours to get together,” he said, adding that Beijing is fully ready for the Olympic Games.

Datuk Yew Teong Look, who represented Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Chuan at the launch, said the exhibition was a way of expressing Malaysia’s support for the Olympics.

He hoped that more Malaysian artists would promote the local art scene through exhibitions and flourish internationally.

The exhibition was organised by Art Expo Malaysia with the cooperation of the National Art Gallery and the Olympic Council of Malaysia and partly held to coincide with the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games.

City Art Gallery is located at G08A, Ground Floor, The AmpWalk, No. 218, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. The exhibition is open from 11.30am to 6.30pm daily. For details, call 03-2775 3933.