b. 1994 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Yasmeen Cheong
Diploma in Fine Art, Dasein Academy of Art, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Full name: Yasmeen Cheong Pooi Sum (鐘珮珊)
Portraitures have been the mainstay of this young Kuala Lumpur-born artist, a graduate from the Fine Art diploma program at Dasein Academy of Art. In her earlier works, her subjects were people she knew personally, primarily family and friends.
Yasmeen’s current portraitures focus on people in need of care, the homeless, the disabled, and the elderly who live in old folks homes. In recent exhibitions, the elderly have become her most favored subjects. Her expressive charcoal works bring to life the many stories these elderly folks have to tell.
Her approach to depicting these time-worn subjects in her portraitures is inspired from an idea articulated by ancient Greek philosopher Plato, in The Phaedrus: “… the eyes which are the windows of the soul…“. Much effort is put by Yasmeen to depict the area of the eyes as realistically as possible, in order that the many stories her subjects have to tell may emanate more effortlessly.
Most of her works are done either in charcoal or oil, two media she favors most. One aspect that makes Yasmeen unique among her peers is that she draws directly onto the canvas. Instead of relying on projection or photograph measurements, she works instinctively, allowing the emotional connections with her subjects flow.
The result of her approach speaks for itself – in Yasmeen’s portraitures one may immediately feel the soulful presence of her subjects, as if they were right there in the flesh, relating to us their life stories, of how they got where they are, their accomplishments and their regrets, and what they might have to look forward to in their remaining days.
My work is mostly portraiture, as a simple portrait can express the feelings of an artist. My canvases use expressive strokes and colours to structure the outline of the sitters, and their eyes are rendered realistically, to better express their stories. To quote Plato: “... the eyes which are the windows of the soul...”.
Group Exhibitions
2019
B&W, Artemis Art, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Small Small World (小小世界), Artemis Art, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2018
Publika Art Show, The Boulevard, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
RRRAWRRR – Maybank Emerging Women’s Artist Exhibition, Balai Seni Maybank, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2017
HOMEDEC, Galeri Chandan, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Space of Time: International Women’s Exchange Exhibition, Georgetown Festival, Whiteaways Arcade, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Di Mana (Where Are) Young?, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
XS, Galeri Titikmerah, Art Row, Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We Are 5, Artemis Art @ White Box, MAP@Publika, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2016
Presence, Artemis Art, Publika, Kuala Lumpur
Art Expo Plus 2016, Mosaic Art Project by HOM Art Trans, MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Pameran Lukisan Melaka: Terjalin Sebuah Persahabatan, Muzium Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam, Melaka, Malaysia
Vice Versa, Artemis Art @ Galeri Rumah Jati, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
One Belt One Road, 798 Art District, Beijing, China
Equilibrio, Artemis Art at White Box, MAP@Publika, Kuala Lumpur
Young Malaysian Artists (YMA) III, Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur
NExxxT, Xin Artspace, Kuala Lumpur
Young & Blooming Part II, HOM Art Trans, Kuala Lumpur & China House, George Town, Penang
2015
aveNew, Artemis Art, Publika, Kuala Lumpur
The Groupshow, Dasein Academy of Art, Kuala Lumpur
AIA Generasi Malaysia, Publika, Kuala Lumpur
Pop Up Show, Starhill Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
2014
September Course Exhibition, Dasein Academy of Art, Kuala Lumpur
Future Generation Art Exhibition, Leo Geo Art Restaurant, Kuala Lumpur
Print Making Exhibition, Leo Geo Art Restaurant, Kuala Lumpur
June Course Exhibition, Dasein Academy of Art, Kuala Lumpur
Tanpa Nama 2, Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Awards
2014
1st Prize in Charcoal/Pencil/Ink, Tanjong Heritage 2014 National Level Art Competition, Kuala Lumpur
Consolation Prize, Creative Wau Design Competition, Mid Valley Mega Mall, Kuala Lumpur
2013
Consolation – Category B, Tanpa Nama 2 Competition and Exhibition, Bank Negara Malaysia Museum & Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
In The Media
2016
Penghormatan Untuk Wanita – Harian Metro, March 4, 2016
2015
The Art Pilgrim – Why Malaysian art rocks – Tapir Tales, November 23, 2015
An aveNew for young artists – The Star, October 14, 2015
Young Artists Reveal Their Generation – BFM Radio Podcast, broadcast on October 7, 2015
2014
Art academy students shine in competition aimed at inspiring youth – The Star, November 14 2014
Pertandingan Seni Tanjong Peringkat Kebangsaan Pupuk Semangat Hargai Warisan – Selebriti Online, November 11, 2014