Go past the colourful umbrellas languidly hanging from the ceiling and ignore the aroma of delicious food permeating the air from the various stalls lined to the left of the walkway. Walk up a couple of steps and before the second set of escalators, you’ll be greeted by artist Suzi Chua’s Gentle Giant perched on the wall. This magnificent life-like painting of an orangutan caressing a delicate dragonfly in his right palm set against a dark canvas is truly a sight to behold.
The large poster version of Chua’s painting is located at KL Citywalk, the only urban street arcade within Kuala Lumpur’s famed Golden Triangle that links KLCC to Pavilion. “I actually submitted three paintings to the Art in the City competition. All three were pictures of wildlife easily found in our forests - the Malayan tiger, our precious sun bear, and this orangutan,” explains the affable artist as she walks me to her striking artwork.
Art in the City is a campaign that serves as a strategic effort to promote the local arts community to the public by featuring 14 artworks from legendary and grassroots artists at specific high visibility locations across the city.
The six-month long initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Federal Territories, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and CENDANA (Cultural Economy Development Agency) with the sole aim to position and recognise the city as a cultural and creative hub.
It’s also designed to raise greater awareness of the local arts and cultural scene, and to encourage Malaysians to visit art galleries and museums around Kuala Lumpur. Besides publicly displaying art pieces, Art in the City will also feature a myriad of activities such as mural paintings, monthly performances, regional mentorship programmes, art workshops, pop-up visual fairs and many more.
Arriving in front of her canvas, Chua exclaims sheepishly: “I was actually surprised this was chosen by the judges and won with popular votes from the public! I didn’t expect it. I also didn’t expect them to blow it up so big!” Her surprise surprises me. And I tell her so.
The orangutan’s lush brown fur looks so real, glistening under the ray of the sun that’s bathing it at an angle. Its tender eyes, looking out at me so endearingly and imploringly, capture my attention. Suddenly a sense of sadness envelops me and I couldn’t help but wonder what will be the fate of this endangered species. This is precisely the kind of emotion that Chua is looking to evoke from those who clap eyes on her work.
“I’ve always loved animals and they have a special place in my heart,” shares the 59-year-old, adding: “It pains me to see them being bullied from their homes or worst, being killed. So I do my best to raise awareness of these creatures’ plight in whatever way I can. Through my art, I provide them with a voice to tell their stories.”
While your focus may initially rest on the large orangutan in the centre of the poster, the fragile little dragonfly in its palm will eventually attract your attention too. “There’s actually a funny story as to how the dragonfly got into the picture,” shares Chua, before adding with a smile: “I found a dead one in my drawing room one day. I didn’t know how it got in there. But without thinking, as I was lifting it up, I promised it that I would give it life in one of my paintings. So there he is - sitting beside an animal larger than him by tenfold!”
Self-taught artist
Sporting a stylish silver bob and decked in an all-black outfit, Chua exudes a friendly next door neighbour vibe instead of that of a well-established artist. “On my days off, I prefer to spend it with my grandchildren and be the doting grandmother that I should be,” she confides, chuckling.
This self-taught artist has long made a name for herself through social media by posting up random works of three-dimensional resin art, mostly of koi and goldfishes in tea cups. The sheer accuracy and ‘realness’ of her drawings had invited a host of compliments and comments from the public across the globe. “I’ve actually gotten a few scolding from people who thought that I’d used real fishes in my art,” she shares, chuckling incredulously.
This humble animal lover actually began her art journey by painting her beloved Maltese, Snowboy. “I’ve always loved drawing and painting, but I never got to go for classes because it was too expensive. The only art I did was during art periods in school,” she recalls, adding: “But I decided to change all that when I turned 40, when all my three sons were independent enough to be on their own. I told them, “I’ve spent half my life nurturing all of you, now it’s time I nurture myself!” and they all good-naturedly agreed. They’re very supportive of what I do.”
Ever since then, Chua has been honing her skills in various art forms. From painting on canvas, to three-dimensional resin art, clay sculpturing, and even the odd painting on stones and leaves. “My love for animals pushes me to use my skills in art as a vehicle to put them in the spotlight. I’m hoping that their endearing image will incite others to love them like I do,” she reveals with conviction.
It’s with heavy heart that I find myself bidding a silent farewell to the gentle giant sitting alone beside the escalator. But it’s getting late and I don’t want to be around when the notorious KL traffic starts to build up.
As we slowly walk away from the large poster, Chua turns to me and says: “If my painting can stir something inside of you, possibly a quiet calling for you to make a change… that would be the greatest gift back for me. Because all I want to do is to help save these animals, one painting at a time.”
For details, visit www.cendana.com.my