Wong Chee Meng is known as one of the ‘traditional’ artists in Malaysia. The fine artist was born in 1975 in Taiping Perak where he grew up. Today, Chee Meng’s works are known for their 3D projections in many ways and one writer even associated him with the likes Picasso, Rembrandt and Marc Chagall. Chee Meng studied Diploma in Fine Art at the Malaysian Institute of Art where he then continued to complete his degree in Graphic Design from the Curtin University of Technology. He is currently undergoing his M A in International Art and Design Practice with Limkokwing University of Creative Technology.
Currently a lecturer in the design field, Chee Meng draws with him a wide range of experiences where he has been involved with various art projects like mural paintings, stage play, installation and many more. It was through a motorcycle accident in his teenage years that left his eye-sight slightly impaired that enabled him to see things through a different angle. Hence his earlier works were more ‘colourful’ due to his experience in seeing a different beauty in flawed objects. It is in this physical weakness that would become his artistic strength where he has established himself as one of the most skillful Malaysian artists around.
Wong Chee Meng’s Exhibitions and awards
Wong Chee Meng’s work has a certain trademark in them. One would never be able to see his paintings from a literal sense because they are never literal. Instead, his works will always bring the viewer into a journey where he ‘educates’ them to view the world through his eyes. This is where one would always see objects overlapping with others which requires one to try and figure out what to look for. He used nature and basic lines with colours and shapes in his 1996 ‘Wonderful World’ piece, which is known to have been the painting that gave him his foothold in the art scene.
Chee Meng has been actively involved with the art scene since coming into the industry. His works have been exhibited in public and private art galleries not only in Malaysia but in many other parts of the world as well. His works have been seen in Taksu Gallery as well as the ABN AMRO Bank Building in Penang. Chee Meng was the Second runner-up in “David Bowie Competition” organized by the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur in 1996 while he also received Honourable Mention at the Philip Morris Malaysian Art Award. Other notable exhibitions by Chee Meng include the “Kata Di Kota: a Malaysia Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Cuba: In conjunction with the 9th Havana Biennale”, the “Thinking Spaces”, installation show at Soka Gakai Tower, the “Coming Together” Group Exhibition at Pelita Hati Gallery as well the “Gema: Resonance” exhibition at Manes Gallery in Prague the Czech Republic.
