KOLEJ DISTED-STAMFORD NEWS
27 June 2009

Touching hearts with Chinese art

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‘Life’s a Rainbow’ displays the 46 artworks of 14 Malaysian Chinese brush artists. The sale of the paintings is in aid of cancer patients and all purchases are tax exempt. 

The week-long Chinese painting charity exhibition from 27 June to 4 July 2009 held at DISTED College is organized by the National Cancer Society of Malaysia Penang Branch in collaboration with the college. 

The fund-raising exhibition will benefit the Hospice At Home Programme, a community project of the society’s Penang branch.  

The Chinese brush painting charity exhibition held at DISTED library.

“The Hospice At Home Programme has been providing free compassionate care for cancer patients since 1992. Last year, 660 patients were provided with care,” said Dato' Seri Dr T. Devaraj, National Cancer Society of Malaysia Penang Branch CEO and medical director.

Chitra Alagan, the Penang branch’s programme manager, said: “The care is given in the homes of patients by a team of nurses, doctors and lay volunteers to enhance the quality of life by reducing suffering."

“Basic nursing care is taught to the family who is also given bereavement support,” she added. 

Flame Lite (S) Pte. Ltd. managing director and Singapore Chung Ling Alumni Association president Loke Gim Tay (third from right) officiating the opening of the charity art exhibition at DISTED. With him are (from right) DISTED president Dato' Dr Chong Eng Keat, and artists Ang Tin Kean and Ang Swee Hin.

Loke Gim Tay (left), Flame Lite (S) Pte. Ltd. managing director and Singapore Chung Ling Alumni Association president, presenting his donation of RM20,000 to National Cancer Society of Malaysia Penang Branch CEO and medical director Dato' Seri Dr T. Devaraj, to support the branch's Hospice At Home Programme. Looking on are (from second left) DISTED president Dato' Dr Chong Eng Keat and artist Ang Tin Kean.

“This charity project is a call for Malaysians to touch a heart, feel the love, care and share with cancer patients, which is in line with the DISTED CONNECT programme to promote a caring community culture,” said Dato' Dr Chong Eng Keat, DISTED president. 

DISTED business development and quality assurance manager Josephine Chan Ie Lyn added: “It’s a splendid opportunity to engage the community and raise greater awareness on the national health issue of palliative care for cancer-stricken people."

The exhibition was officially opened on 27 June 2009 by Loke Gim Tay, Flame Lite (S) Pte. Ltd. managing director and Singapore Chung Ling Alumni Association president, who donated RM20,000 to support the community care programme. 

Loke said: “It’s heartening to see 2 community-minded institutions, DISTED and the cancer society, joining hands with good-hearted artists to promote charity for the Penang community.” 

DISTED president Dato' Dr Chong Eng Keat (right) and (from left) vice-president Dr Koo Wee Kor posing with artists Dr Khong Kwan Sin and Yeoh Suan Choo. Behind them are the paintings Tiger Lily (left) by Dr Khong and Huangshan by Yeoh.

The art collection exudes the artists’ love and passion for Chinese brush painting, and represents their big heart for a noble cause.

“The paintings expressed their own individual creative styles, life experiences and encounters with the environment,” said Ruhana Abdul Razak, DISTED administration trainee who helped out in organizing the exhibition.

“They managed to capture the beauty and uniqueness of natural sceneries, plants, flowers, fruits, birds and insects on canvas,” she said. 

National Cancer Society of Malaysia Penang Branch CEO and medical director Dato' Seri Dr T. Devaraj (right) presenting a certificate of appreciation to veteran artist Ang Swee Hin.

Well-known artist Ang Swee Hin showcased 5 paintings with selling price ranging from RM5,000 to RM10,000 each. 

Reputed to the one of the first Chinese brush painters in the country, Ang’s forte lies in landscape drawings. 

“We can create a world of tranquility on paper and paint nature in such a way as to bring out the spirit, at the expense of appearance. What is truly beautiful should be appreciated through its inner vibrant beauty, and not painted just as it appears,” he said. 

The 14 participating artists are:

Ang Swee Hin 
Ang Tin Kean 
Cheah Moey Yin
Chong Tam Seng 
Ee Ah Hong
Khaw Yiat Lin 
Dr Khong Kwan Sin 
Khiew Poh Eng
Leow Kok Wah 
Ng Gia Chuen 
Ong Wah Peng 
Tai Tuang Eng
Teo Ah Lek 
Yeoh Suan Choo 

The participating artists posing with (seated, from left) Flame Lite (S) Pte. Ltd. managing director Loke Gim Tay, veteran artist Ang Swee Hin, DISTED president Dato' Dr Chong Eng Keat and National Cancer Society of Malaysia Penang Branch CEO and medical director Dato' Seri Dr T. Devaraj.