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A good friend of Yong Mun Sen was Xu Bei Hong (Mao’s favourite artist). Xu said “what is most striking about Yong’s techniques is his use of liberal brushstrokes and luminosity without compromising the precision of form. His superb mastery of the artistic medium is always accompanied by an intuitive grasp of the vitality of his subject matter to attain a state of perfection. Not only was Yong the greatest watercolourist in Malaysia, but he was also unsurpassed by any artist of western paintings in Asia specialising in tropical scenery.”
This painting was in the possession of Xu and his estate until it was acquired by the Michael & Saniza Collection and returned to the family collection.
This painting was in the possession of Xu and his estate until it was acquired by the Michael & Saniza Collection and returned to the family collection.
"What was astonishing in Mun Sen’s watercolours was how he took the most English of media and used it in a way to rival the best English exponents of the art. For watercolouring has always been a most English art form."
Brother Joseph McNally
Brother Joseph McNally
“Yong’s work is deeply rooted in the daily life of ordinary people in Malaya and is marked with a distinctive locality. His masterful watercolours are remarkably fresh, lyrical and powerful. Looking at these paintings, done with dynamic strokes that seem so spontaneous and effortless, one could vividly feel the bright sunlight, the sound of waves, the scents of tropical plants, and one could almost hear the murmurs and laughter of islanders, labouring or at rest.”
Professor Xiaoze Xie, the Paul L. and Phyllis Wattis Professor of Art at Stanford University
Professor Xiaoze Xie, the Paul L. and Phyllis Wattis Professor of Art at Stanford University
What is the sincerest form of flattery?
The renowned Malaysian poet and Yong’s contemporary, Guan Zhenmin (管震民, 1880-1964) was so inspired by Yong Mun Sen’s attitude towards life and nature that he dedicated poetry to Yong. Having commissioned translation works to English, I have extracted some of these poetry for readers enjoyment:
頻年南島駐遊蹤，成竹羅胸景不窮；一水一山收筆底，錯疑身入輞川中。
A keen traveller on this southern island, he knows by heart the infinite possibilities of the local scenery
His painter’s hand takes in every stream and mountain, as if one was passing through a hermit’s sanctuary
寫生妙趣在傳神， 始信工深意更新；點綴煙雲敷遠景，毫端常現四時春。
The magic of sketching lies in capturing the essence of the moment, a steadfast commitment in artistic sophistication and intuitive novelty
Distant views layered with mist and clouds, the beauty of the four seasons is revealed in every touch of the brush
畫理同知中外殊，一為寫實一傳虛；知君三昧都參透，虛實隨心各自如。
Chinese art and thinking diverges from the West, one attuned to abstraction and the other the real
In a state of true enlightenment, the abstract and the real are free from such confines in your mind
海天風景渺無涯，幾樹椰蕉亞答家；坐久渾忘塵世事，夕陽遠映片帆斜。
The boundless sea and land, coconut and banana trees standing next to palm leaf homes (attap houses)
Here, the world of dust will fade into oblivion, as slanting sails are silhouetted against the setting sun
The renowned Malaysian poet and Yong’s contemporary, Guan Zhenmin (管震民, 1880-1964) was so inspired by Yong Mun Sen’s attitude towards life and nature that he dedicated poetry to Yong. Having commissioned translation works to English, I have extracted some of these poetry for readers enjoyment:
頻年南島駐遊蹤，成竹羅胸景不窮；一水一山收筆底，錯疑身入輞川中。
A keen traveller on this southern island, he knows by heart the infinite possibilities of the local scenery
His painter’s hand takes in every stream and mountain, as if one was passing through a hermit’s sanctuary
寫生妙趣在傳神， 始信工深意更新；點綴煙雲敷遠景，毫端常現四時春。
The magic of sketching lies in capturing the essence of the moment, a steadfast commitment in artistic sophistication and intuitive novelty
Distant views layered with mist and clouds, the beauty of the four seasons is revealed in every touch of the brush
畫理同知中外殊，一為寫實一傳虛；知君三昧都參透，虛實隨心各自如。
Chinese art and thinking diverges from the West, one attuned to abstraction and the other the real
In a state of true enlightenment, the abstract and the real are free from such confines in your mind
海天風景渺無涯，幾樹椰蕉亞答家；坐久渾忘塵世事，夕陽遠映片帆斜。
The boundless sea and land, coconut and banana trees standing next to palm leaf homes (attap houses)
Here, the world of dust will fade into oblivion, as slanting sails are silhouetted against the setting sun
Why is It important to remember history?
"Yong Mun Sen was born in a world that was dominated by two powerful women, Empress Dowager and Queen Victoria. In his lifetime, he waved the Union Jack, kowtowed to the imperial dragon, saluted the Kuomintang flag, saw Japanese troops rolled in and out, and witnessed the Cultural Revolution in China. In the last phase of his life, Grandpa celebrated Malaysia’s nationhood and independence from her colonial masters. Grandpa’s generation endured too much turmoil. This is history we must not forget. We are blessed to learn about our history through such amazing artworks.”
楊焜善 (Michael), grandson of Yong Mun Sen.
"Yong Mun Sen was born in a world that was dominated by two powerful women, Empress Dowager and Queen Victoria. In his lifetime, he waved the Union Jack, kowtowed to the imperial dragon, saluted the Kuomintang flag, saw Japanese troops rolled in and out, and witnessed the Cultural Revolution in China. In the last phase of his life, Grandpa celebrated Malaysia’s nationhood and independence from her colonial masters. Grandpa’s generation endured too much turmoil. This is history we must not forget. We are blessed to learn about our history through such amazing artworks.”
楊焜善 (Michael), grandson of Yong Mun Sen.
How would you describe Yong Mun Sen’s paintings?
“Yong’s paintings are distinguished by his dynamic and well-honed skills. He is more concerned about capturing the essence, rather than the resemblance, of movements and expressions to go beyond verisimilitude. As a dedicated artist who spent decades perfecting his works, his mastery of the artistic medium is well reflected in the simplicity of brushwork, richness of colour, and bold and unrestrained lines. His portrayal of the tropical landscape is especially commendable for its unique composition and technical finesse. It is little wonder that Yong has earned the reputation of a grandmaster. I think his paintings are the crystallisation of his lifelong dedication to the art of painting and personal experience. He is an artist who sees nature as his teacher and model. Today, we see him as an artist of great accomplishment, but let us not forget that his success is the result of decades of hard work and perseverance, an epic journey of insurmountable hardships and challenges. Yong believes that learning is a lifelong process regardless of the marks of success. But although art is an endless journey, I believe Yong has already written a glorious page in the art history of Nanyang!”
Lok Tok, Xu Beihong’s godson cum student
“Yong’s paintings are distinguished by his dynamic and well-honed skills. He is more concerned about capturing the essence, rather than the resemblance, of movements and expressions to go beyond verisimilitude. As a dedicated artist who spent decades perfecting his works, his mastery of the artistic medium is well reflected in the simplicity of brushwork, richness of colour, and bold and unrestrained lines. His portrayal of the tropical landscape is especially commendable for its unique composition and technical finesse. It is little wonder that Yong has earned the reputation of a grandmaster. I think his paintings are the crystallisation of his lifelong dedication to the art of painting and personal experience. He is an artist who sees nature as his teacher and model. Today, we see him as an artist of great accomplishment, but let us not forget that his success is the result of decades of hard work and perseverance, an epic journey of insurmountable hardships and challenges. Yong believes that learning is a lifelong process regardless of the marks of success. But although art is an endless journey, I believe Yong has already written a glorious page in the art history of Nanyang!”
Lok Tok, Xu Beihong’s godson cum student
How would you describe Yong Mun Sen’s style of paintings?
According to Dick Chen, accomplished artist and grandson of the legendary Chen Shuren (1884-1948), one of three founders of the Lingnan School of painting.
“Yong’s Nanyang style is defined as simplicity, very few brushstrokes, the images are broken down into simple shapes. What symbolises the Nanyang style is a carefree style. The brushworks are so graceful and poetic, forceful when strength is needed. His compositions are so naturally faultless. He was really one of a kind. A rare, talented and gifted art giant.”
According to Dick Chen, accomplished artist and grandson of the legendary Chen Shuren (1884-1948), one of three founders of the Lingnan School of painting.
“Yong’s Nanyang style is defined as simplicity, very few brushstrokes, the images are broken down into simple shapes. What symbolises the Nanyang style is a carefree style. The brushworks are so graceful and poetic, forceful when strength is needed. His compositions are so naturally faultless. He was really one of a kind. A rare, talented and gifted art giant.”
Is a painting just 2 dimensional?
Recently I did a private docent tour for Oscar Award-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang and her cinematographer husband Lambert Yam.
Oscar Award-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang and husband Lambert Yam (cinematographer and producer) pointed out, “conventional painting is two dimensional where the object fits nicely within the frame. By painting outside the frame, Yong Mun Sen creates a three dimension to his paintings. And many of his works bring a fourth dimension leading the viewer’s mind to wander beyond the picture and allowing the viewer’s imagination to take over.”
Recently I did a private docent tour for Oscar Award-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang and her cinematographer husband Lambert Yam.
Oscar Award-winning filmmaker Ruby Yang and husband Lambert Yam (cinematographer and producer) pointed out, “conventional painting is two dimensional where the object fits nicely within the frame. By painting outside the frame, Yong Mun Sen creates a three dimension to his paintings. And many of his works bring a fourth dimension leading the viewer’s mind to wander beyond the picture and allowing the viewer’s imagination to take over.”
What do Yong Mun Sen and Professor Wang Gungwu have in common?
"In his memoire “Where is Home”, Professor Wang Gungwu talks about his journey as a Nanyang Chinese diaspora in search of his home in the East and the West, only to discover at the end of the journey that home is temporal, not spatial, and is where you are and what you make of it. For Yong Mun Sen, another Nanyang Chinese diaspora, he has captured artistically his temporal home combining the influences of western abstraction with Chinese ink to create an artistic home that is uniquely his own.”
Alice Mong, Executive Director of Asia Society Hong Kong
"In his memoire “Where is Home”, Professor Wang Gungwu talks about his journey as a Nanyang Chinese diaspora in search of his home in the East and the West, only to discover at the end of the journey that home is temporal, not spatial, and is where you are and what you make of it. For Yong Mun Sen, another Nanyang Chinese diaspora, he has captured artistically his temporal home combining the influences of western abstraction with Chinese ink to create an artistic home that is uniquely his own.”
Alice Mong, Executive Director of Asia Society Hong Kong
"It was the most memorable moment when I introduced Michael and Saniza to Xu Fangfang, daughter of Xu Beihong. Michael’s grandfather was Yong Men Sen, and he was a good friend of Xu Beihong. I learnt that during the WWII, and around the Japanese invasion, Xu Beihong visited Yong Mun Sen in Penang. Looking at Yong’s paintings, I would connect them to a unique period of history. And the paintings bring to life that historical period for me. Yong’s paintings tell me stories about places and a time that I am not familiar with. Through these works, I feel his fervent passion and love for life, for his people and for his land. History lives in these remarkable and vivid paintings. Yong’s art is inspiring and brings meaning to my career as an art gallerist."
Daxue Xu, Director and Co-Founder of Qualia Contemporary Art.
Daxue Xu, Director and Co-Founder of Qualia Contemporary Art.
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