Cheong Laitong isn't just any artist -- he has been there from the very inception of the art scene in Malaysia and has bloomed along with it to sit among the fluorishing pedestal it is today.
In today’s modern day and age, not many can say they survived the World War. Even less can say they were part of the group who pioneered the Asian art scene, especially in a country like Malaysia that today sees some of the most progressive artists of our generation.
Cheong Laitong however, is not just any man.
The artist, who is best known for being the mastermind behind the mural that today stands tall and proud on our national museum, is an unassuming man, but behind the shy smile and kind eyes, is a soul and love for the arts that date back many decades.
Escaping the Japanese and the war with art
Born in Guangzhou, China, Cheong was only a mere child of 6 when the oncoming Japanese troops into China forced him and his family to flee their home and find new settlements in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“The year was 1938,” recalls Cheong with a distant look in his eyes and a weary touch to his almost-breaking voice. “At the time my father already has businesses in Kuala Lumpur, so when he found out the Japanese was invading China, he quickly got someone to move the whole family from China to Malaysia.”
“We thought we were only going to be here for a year or two at most,” Cheong continues, “but I didn’t go back until I went to look for my roots in 1998.”
Coming to Malaysia did not free them from the Japanese. “We thought we could escape them by coming to Malaysia,” he says with an ironic laugh. “Turns out, they followed us here.”
Amidst the turmoil of the era, Cheong found something that always helped him escape life’s harsh realities.
“I always had a sketchbook with me,” he tells. “I started drawing very young.”
Airplanes were among his favourite things to draw, before he progressed from drawing to painting and eventually sculpting.
“It was more than just an interest,” Cheong insists. “My hands have always been very good with building crafts. I loved building model airplanes. I’ve always got it from when I was a little boy.”
Cheong's mural on the front facade of the National Museum
Following his dream of painting his own path
After the war, at a time when Malaysia was in a state of emergency due to the communist insurgence and China was in The Civil War, Cheong too was torn between his country of birth and country of savior.
His wish to return to China was foiled when his own mother threatened to take her own life if he did. To please her, he stayed and found work as a cinema projectionist.
His job to match subtitles to new English movies that were fast becoming very popular in the country taught him most of the English he knew today. As rewarding as that was, the calling of the arts never left him.
“I had a lot of free time on my hand, that’s when I decided to develop more of my art at the time, “ Cheong tells.
Circa the 1950’s, an English art educator by the name of Peter Harris was named the Art Superintendent of the Ministry of Education Selangor. He founded the Wednesday Art Group where he would teach art to interested parties every Wednesday between 6 – 8pm.
“Peter Harris was very pleased that there was at least a group of youngsters who loved it enough to stay,” Cheong says. “We learned together and he was very kind to arrange for government funds to buy art paper, powder paint, brushes and, above all, his free time, to teach us. “
From the group were born what would be the pioneers of the Malaysian art scene. Datuk Hussein Anas and Said Ahmad Jamal were among Cheong’s contemporaries from that very Wednesday Art Group, names who have shot the Malaysian art scene to great heights in their times.
Cheong’s instinct to follow his art dream would pay off along with the nation’s wish to gain independence.
“My art has always been a reflection of my feelings through my physical actions.”
The year 1957 spelled exciting times ahead for both Cheong and the newly independent Malaysia.
“New buildings were being built everywhere,” recalls Cheong. “There was the new museum, the sports stadium and more.”
Cheong’s break would come with the museum, for which they were looking to have a mural painted on the front wall.
“They organised a competition to select the winning artist who would paint it,” tells Cheong.
It wasn’t an open competition either. Out of the 200 odd artists there were in Malaysia back then, including Singapore which was still a state of Malaysia, only 7 outstanding artists were selected to compete, Cheong being one of them.
Cheong, answering his life’s calling, won the competition and got the opportunity to leave his legacy upon what is today one of the most enduring symbols of our nation.
Cheong was unstoppable after that. Today, even at 82 years of age, his works continue to be shown in solo exhibitions in and around the country.
Winning that mural was only the start -- he had gone on to be awarded a scholarship to Skowhagen School of Printing and Sculpture in Maine, USA, won countless awards and accolades in major art shows and his works today sell for close to half a million ringgit at major auctions.
But one thing remains the same for the artist.
“Art needs to express something,” he says. “Art needs to make you feel something.”
“My art has always been a reflection of my feelings through my physical actions.”
Art has also been his life’s biggest teacher.
“Art has taught me that there is an infinity of beautiful things in this world,” he shares without hesitation. “It is up to you to catch it.“
“Hopefully whatever you catch, you’ll be able to put it somewhere and share with others the pleasure of enjoying something beautiful.”
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