pohon, jubah dan balung, sacred cow

Pohon2004 6'x4' mixed media on canvas

Pohon - Chee Eng Hong created many tree paintings and drawings that called it "pohon"This has became an extension of his "Sahut" painting.It came as though the process allowed the landscape to move, to developed and evolve not to the extent of dominating the who process, The progression is very subtle not intervene, just like accumulation of property as a whole or organically growth.It has now worked on a larger scale and begins to exploit the expressive power not only of the image itself but also rather metaphorically, it's defied by employing the conventional approach.

In his work for this image, notably in his favorites mixed media and oil on canvas's painting and drawing the medium he's most comfortable with, in which, allowed him to the greatest freedom to create and recreate. This is not merely painterly version of an ordinary tree; it has arrived at a new theme; a leafless, solidify, and lump, the tree characterized by a linear tangle of a gnarled, aged branches, textured bark and sturdy of trunk. The age and the shape of the trees begins to narrative, left evidence, either sad or angst, giving the picture a heavy desolation but does not eliminate the quietness and calmness. Yet, post potential amount of destruction.

One of the trees called "Pohon" which was painted in 2004, and"Flames 2005" exploits to different effect, with expressive potential of the tree's explosion and eruption forms, and exhibited in 2006 in his one man show in Alpha Utara Gallery in Penang.

Hot, fiery, and burning as oppose to common terminology given to describe tree were pressing out from the artist colors tube, like no alternative given, the selections and choice are limited. From this limitation it throws one to the vast atmosphere, non-restricted zone and as if, prepared for shortcoming.

It is also unmistakably for a repercussion of massive nuclear explosion.Akin to an atomic explosion's mushroom clouds, full forms that dominate the canvas's shallow field, pressing out from the ground, almost pull us into the space.

The dedication in the title "Pohon" or "Tree" is also indirectly tell his affection to the subject tree, although after years he began making the trees, he did not want to stop there.
He laments " after all, even the origin of "sejarah" (Malay language for history) derives from Arabs word "syajaratun" which means tree and which means ancestry. genealogy, legend, biography, descent, origin".

Many states, towns, and roads have name after trees, which is very common.

The interaction between the power of the image itself, tree, must be from his root that connected him to Taiping town where the landscape is graced with many trees and he regularly cycle past them.




Jubah 2005 mixed media on canvas 8'x68"

Jubah - (robe) was frantically rendered with wide, strong and urgent brush stroke. The translation of solid and fluid interchangeability is distinct. As if, there is a magic transformation when a person wore one,This gigantic, intimidating image is not for the faint-hearted, nevertheless this is not intended but had to it as impressive as if the distortion of the Omnipotent newly obtained were giving tall order, and we who allowed the entrusted with immense power to realize its purposes through them. Now they have the tendency to reinforce and ready to conquer with the anticipation of a serious battle, be it to defense or to attack or simply just to satisfy beyond the so-called human ego. When steps back, viewers can discern an exiting and a cognitive visual,it's resonate the tensions of society under the stamp of aristocracy.

"Jubah" becomes the perfect mould, to the formation of the "jasad"(physical body). This is most vividly expressed through abstraction combine figuration, is a technical virtuosity that recalls the artist interest in the physical and metaphorical properties.



Balung (comb)2007 mixed media on canvas 52"x38"

Balung (comb) - It begins when the colors in the palette turns red, glowing, heated and is red-hot energy...marked by much heat. so intense, it seems easily ignited.

It may seem to look like our friendly domestic fowl or the rooster in the 12-years cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac.

Yet, It's mysterious, fiery, fierce and may easily excites. Balung, very interesting to look at, its organic form easily attracts like a sexual allure, only when the "balung" is prominently displayed, it announces sheer arrogance, proud. vanity, egocentric, high and mighty authority strut! The comb may be the crest and the symbol of our today's pretentious behavior, beware as we have been forewarned and take caution, as we have been told "Gombak gemilang kutu banyak, bibir hitam gigi kotor" (An old Malay proverb for "glorious crest plenty of fleas. black lips dirty teeth"- one may have a decent and honourable outlook but is a vicious and heartless person.)

Sacred cow 2006 mixed media on canvas 52"x72"

Sacred cow - an icon for many, cow and bull have always been given that strong and powerful images and fixing the viewer with a rather provocative glare. It dominates the canvas...a true resilient survivor...The triumph over struggles...

Sacred cow, figuratively, anything that is beyond criticism, cannot be tempered with or criticized for fear of public outcry. Some authorities considered themselves exempt from criticism or even questioning for their unreasonably action. It has come to almost inaccessible. Cow is a symbolic display, which upon pedestal is above the law!

The message; as art is part of social dialogue, now come with a strong presence of impulsive emotional response.It does not merely settle as a beautiful and decorative piece but with the absence of social-political issues, deprivation shows, incompleteness revealed, like a unsettled issues of mad cow social-political issues...suppressed, oppressed!