Research on Artist

Lee Kian Seng is a full time visual artist since 1966. He has born in China in 1948, but his nationality is Malaysian. He majors in sculpture, painting, 3D installations and print making.

His submission entitled “Joy of Living”(oil) won the 3rd Prize in Category B of a 1964 competition organized by the Art Council of Malaysia when he was 16. This was followed by a string of national art awards from 1966 through the major national exhibitions in Malaysia in the 70s.

At the age of 18 (1966), the Art Council of Malaysia presented his first Solo exhibition( paintings) to critical acclaim.

In 1969, the then 21-year-old Lee participated in the Malaysia Art Exhibition held in Australia , New Zealand , the Indian Triennale and the 10th Sao Paulo Biennale of Contemporary World Art in Brazil . He also exhibited his 3-D installation “Unity 1969” at the World Exposition 1970 in Osaka where he was appointed as an Artist of the Malaysian Pavilion.

He has held 22 one-person exhibits since 1966 and been part of many joint exhibitions , winning many awards along the way. His exhibitions “Chronicles Part 1” in 1995” and “Toward the New Millennium”1998 (3-D works) were well received at home and internationally. His growth runs simultaneous with almost every crucial stage in the chronology of Malaysian art history. (July 30, 1995 Sunday Star Malaysia）

LEE Kian Seng has been one of the most consistent, productive and dedicated artists in the Malaysian art scene over the past 40 years and is also known as the father of Installation Art in Malaysia.

His other principle research area is “Comparative studies in dyeing art”, covering technical aspects of lithography, dye and resist technique, etching, and silkscreen. His explorations and innovations in the dye and resist technique/batik medium in modern art expressions won him a Tokyo Creation Award (Overseas Prize) in 1993.

Kian Seng’s works represented Malaysia at numerous international events including the Third ASEAN Square Sculpture Symposium in Indonesia in 1984, where he created “Peace, Harmony and One” which is in the Permanent collection of the Government of Jakarta, Indonesia.

He has 14 works ( produced from 1964 to 1979 only ) in the Permanent collection of the National Art Gallery Malaysia. His works are noted for innovative creativity, aesthetic sensitivity and intellectual content.

He has also written about art occasionally in two major Chinese Daily in Malaysia since 2006.



ref : http://www.leekianseng.com