The Artist: Johnson Khaw Chong Aii

An International Artist. Born in 1967 in Ipoh, Malaysia. He was taught art by his father (Khaw Sia, one of the pioneer artists of Malaysia) since he was 3 years old. Presently, he  is a designer for commercial packaging,  printing, advertising  and interior / exterior design.

Though young, he has received several awards for his artwork on antidrugs illustration design from Yang Dipertuan Agong, Royal King of Malaysia. (1981), Selangor Chinese Townhall (1983),  Spritual Assembly of the Bahais of Malaysia (1986) and Penang Anti-drugs group (1989).

He participated in the Young Contemporary Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur in 1988. Penang Art Society Annual Exhibition 1989 and Penang Museum and Art Gallery Open Show, June 1990. His paintings are collected all over the world.

History about The Artist’s father Khaw Sia

Khaw Sia studied at the Sung Hua Academy in Shanghai from 1925-32. There, he met several famous Chinese brush painters, including Xu Beihong (1895-1953)who Praised his talents highly. Later in 1933, he received private tuition in water-colour painting from Sir Russell Flint in England.

His family migrated to Penang in 1937. He painted in oil, pastel and watercolour with equal artistry. His watercolour which depicted local Malaysian scenes and customs,had a strong influence of English watercolour aesthetics.

He held his first one-man show in Penang in 1955, exhibiting paintings of Balinese women and landscapes. From then on, his fame spread far and wide. Between 1954 to 1959, several of his paintings were accepted by the Royal Acedemy Annual Exhibition (London), Royal Institute Summer Salon Exhibition (London), Royal Water Colour Society Exhibition (London) and Paris Salon Annual Exhibition (169E Exposition Officielle des Beaux-arts, 1956).

In 1966, he held another one-man show in Perak, specializing in oil portraits. His masterpieces included paintings of the Sultan of Perak, who officiated at the opening, and his consort.Besides his devotion to the world of art, Khaw Sia was also an expert in the cultivation orchids. He was a member of the American Orchid Society.

His passion for orchids resulted in him travelling extensively to Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and Indonesia, looking for new species for his garden. Naturally, he captivated their beauty on paper, depicting the delicacy and charm of the orchids, with colours so vivid, so radiant and brimming over with life.

He held one-man exhibitions of orchids watercolour paintings in 1966, 1976 and 1977. He received awards for his art at Le Salon Paris (1956), Summer Salon 14th annual exhibition at the Royal Institute Galleries, London (1957), and National society 25th Exhibition, England (1958).

His paintings are collected all over the world, including the National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur.He pass away in 1984 at the age of 71 years.