Prewar Era
Postwar Era
Solo and group exhibitions in Malaya featuring the watercolour and oil
paintings of Yong
Mun Sen
杨曼生在马来亚的个人水彩、油画展与联展
1896
Yong Mun Sen, birth name Yen Lang, is born in Kuching, Sarawak State, Malaysia.
1901-1909
Yong moves to his ancestral village, Tai-Pu, China, and learns Chinese classics and calligraphy.
1910
He returns to Kuching, where he meets a Japanese artist painting in watercolour. This seminal encounter sparks his beginning to work with this particular medium.
1914
Yong visits China. His brother Yen Koon gathers caterpillars, butterflies and grasshoppers for him to sketch.
1916
While in China, he marries Lam Sek Foong. They have five children together, 3 sons and 2 daughters.They are Yong Bee Kiew (1917), Yong Cheong Wah (1924), Yong Liu Keow (1926), Yong Min Wah (1927) and Yong Chu Hwa (1938).
1917
Yong returns to Kuching for the second time to inherit the family's coconut estate. This results in a dispute with his uncles, who were previously managing the site.
In the same year, Yong leaves Sarawak for Singapore to pursue a life of painting.
1918
He works two jobs, one as a retail assistant at a bookshop and the other as a cashier. The money he earns is insufficient to support his growing family. He paints and supplements his income by selling artwork at a relative's bookstore in Singapore called Rui Ting (瑞廷書局).
1920
Yong transfers to the Penang branch of Rui Ting located on Carnarvon Street. He paints in his free time and consigns his paintings for sale on commission at a frame-making shop. Art patron Ooi Hwa (黃花) financially supports him, and they set up a gallery together.
1922
Yong establishes his own art studio named Tai Koon (大觀). He develops a penchant for photography, exploring the tonal values of painting and also tries sculpting with Plaster-of-Paris.
1927
He relocates his studio to 164-166 Penang Road and calls it Mun Sen Studio (曼生美術館).
1929
Yong converts one of his existing studio lots to accommodate his photographic venture.
1930
Mun Sen Studio provides frame-making services with imported mirror frames from Italy and Shanghai. The business thrives and becomes a favourite meeting place for fellow artistfriends, namely Tay Hooi Keat, Kuo Ju Ping, Khaw Sia, Lee Cheng Yong, Abdullah Ariff, Chuah Thean Teng and Zhong Bai Mu.
Yong learns about modern European artists and their paintings through books, specifically those of Vincent van Gogh and Gauguin.
1931
A good friend of Yong, Mr Tan Chiu Cheng (陳樹青), owner of Nanyang Electrotype Company, provides financial support and encouragement for Mun Sen to enter the photo studio business.
Yong and his family move into a sea-facing old mansion at 58 Northam Road, which the last Kapitan of Penang, Chung Thye Phin, previously owned.
1932
He opens another studio on Leith Street called Shanghai Photo Studio.
1935
Mun Sen becomes the Founder and Vice-President of the Penang Chinese Art Club, otherwise known as the Penang Ying Ying Art Society. Besides Mun Sen, the collective consists of Lee Cheng Yong (President), Quah Kuan Sin (Secretary), Tay Hooi Keat (Treasurer), Kuo Ju Ping, Tan Seng Aun, Tan Ghek Khean (Mrs Tan Hooi Keat), Zhong Baimu and Wan Fee.
On 17 November 1935, at the New Life Restaurant in the Great World Amusement Park, a meeting covers the official formation of the Society of Chinese Artists (SOCA), previously known as the Salon Art Society. Tchang Ju Chi, Chuang U-Chow, Zhang Bohe, Lu Heng, Nai Wen Chie, C.S. Kau, Chen Chong Swee, Lin Tian, Hsu Chunlin, and Li Kuishi attend this gathering.
1936
SOCA officially forms on 20 January. Mun Sen moots for the establishment of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and is elected Vice-President of the Society. On 25 June, the collective organises its first large-scale annual exhibition. Read More
1937
From 1-5 July, Penang Chinese Artist Club members participate in the Malaya Chinese Cartoons Exhibition organised by the Nanyang Youth Lee Chee Association (年励志社) in Singapore. Mun Sen exhibits his painting Sketching from Life. Read More
1938
From 5-7 July, Yong exhibits watercolour paintings at Ipoh Public Community Centre (怡保公共絡部), and donates to the Pizhou Tuberculosis Foundation (毗州痨基金会).
1939
Yong participates in the M.A.H.A. exhibition for the third time, winning all categories associated with watercolour paintings. He also wins first prize in the 'Land and Sea' category for oil painting. In photography, Mun Sen Studio achieves second place in the Amateur category for 'Composition'. Mun Sen Art Studio receives first place for the 'Miscellaneous' category, second place for 'Child Study', as well as 'Landscape and Seascape'. Meanwhile, Shanghai Studio achieves first place for the 'Composition' category.
1941
Yong's first wife, Lam Sek Foong, passes away on 24 January. Penang San Kiang Association organises a high tea reception for Xu Bei Hong, while Yong and other leading artists host a welcome dinner.
From 11 November, Yong Mun Seng displays his oil painting Fisherman's Homecoming in the exhibition, Fight for Freedom, featuring artworks illustrating the cruelty of war at Victoria Memorial Hall.
Mun Sen marries Yao Chew Mooi, daughter of Yao Swee Lum of Ipoh, a descendant of Kapitan China, Yap Ah Loy. They have 6 children, four sons and two daughters. Cheng Wah (1942), Sim Keow (1943), Kheng Wah (1945), Seng Wah (1947), Ngean Keow (1948) and Fook Wah (1949).
1941-45
Yong farms for survival during the war.
1947
An exhibition of his watercolour paintings takes place at the Victoria Memorial Hall from 14-17 July.
On 11 October, Nanyang Siang Pau reports that Yong exhibits at a community centre along Tai Ping Oriental Street (太平東方街公共聨絡部氏聚館), displaying more than a hundred of his paintings.
1948
Department of Commerce and Industry of the Malayan Union commissions Mun Sen to produce eight paintings for the British Industries Fair London in May. Yong travels the peninsular, specifically rubber estates and tin mines, for inspiration.
He holds an exhibition at Victoria Memorial Hall from 1-3 May, featuring 140 watercolours and 20 oil paintings.
From 4-7 June, Yong exhibits about 100 paintings at the Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur. He donates 20% of his sales.
1949
The artist displays his paintings at the Victoria Memorial Hall, Singapore, from 13-19 June. 40% of the proceeds from the sale of the pictures go to the University of Malaya endowment fund. The artist features 102 watercolour paintings and 12 oil paintings.
Mun Sen exhibits 60 watercolour artworks at the Meng Seng Charitable Association from 1-4 August, and donates 20% of the sales to the Malacca Anti-Tuberculosis Fund.
1950
He sends his artworks to the British Industrial Art Exhibition.
Yong features his paintings in an exhibition to aid the Perak Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society at the Hang Kang Association on Brewster Road, Ipoh, between March 17-19.
Yong sells 26 watercolour paintings for $460 at an exhibition at Victoria Memorial Hall on 15 November and donates 20% of his proceeds to the Poppy Day Fund.
He exhibits his artworks at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur from 6-8 December and donates 20% of his revenue to the Anti-Tuberculosis Fund.
1951
On 24 June, Yong's son Yong Min Wah represents Mun Sen and displays his paintings at the British Council Hall. Artworks on show include Chinese Temple, Catching Prawns, and Chinese Junks. Patrons Malcolm Macdonald, Admiral Boyd, Mr Aston, Resident Commissioner of Penang and Sir Edward Gent buy his paintings. Read More
1952
On 10 December, he exhibits his watercolour paintings of Malaya at the Ipoh Overseas Chinese Service Office (怡保僑众服務处).
1953
Yong features his watercolours at the John Little department store at Raffles Place from 5-12 January.
The artist holds an art exhibition at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall (吉隆坡中華大會 堂) from 29 April to 1 May. He donates 20% of the sales to the United Kingdom Red Cross Fund.
On 2 August, Mun Sen exhibits his paintings at a local Hakka Association (本嶼客属公會).
He holds a watercolour exhibition at John Little department store at Raffles Place on 2-7 November.
1954
From 6-11 December, he features his paintings at Robinson's department store at Raffles Place.
1955
He exhibits his artworks with the support of the Poay Cheng Public School Building Fund.
1956-62
Yong suffers from a long period of illness due to a stroke during a trip to Malacca. He experiences financial hardship in the closing years of his life. He pawns his Leica camera for $5.00.
1962
Yong passes away on 29 September in his home on Penang Road.
1966
A posthumous exhibition commemorates the late Lim Hak Tai, Tchang Ju Chi and Yong Mun Sen at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Singapore from 24 - 28 October. Singapore artist Liu Kang acknowledges that masterpieces by these three late artists are aesthetically sublime and influential across Singapore and Malaysia.
1972
The National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur and Penang State Art Gallery commemorate Mun Sen with a memorial exhibition in March and September, respectively.
1991
Yong's artworks feature in a group exhibition the Pioneers of Malaysian Art.
1998
The Penang Art Gallery holds a solo exhibition for Mun Sen, titled Father of Malaysian Paintings.
1999
Penang State Art Gallery holds a solo exhibition titled Yong Mun Sun Retrospective 1999.
2008 - 2012
His artworks feature in the Exhibition of Paintings from 1930s to 1970s (2008), Collectors' Exhibition by 1st & 2nd Generation Artists (2009), and Past, Present, Future Timelines of Mutiara Artist (2012) at Galeri Seni Mutiara, Penang.
2016
From 9 to 12 June, Yong's painting is on view at The Nanyang Show at Visual Arts Centre, Singapore. There are 47 artworks by artists Chen Wen Hsi, Chia Yu Chian, Lee Cheng Yong, Kuo Ju ping, Tan Choon Ghee, Khoo Sui Hoe, Ong Kim Seng, and Tsai Horng Chung, among others. These paintings depict landscapes of Southeast Asia.
2020
His painting, Singapore River (1954), exhibits in Silhouettes: Collecting Singapore Modern | Selections from the Collection of Su-Yen Wong and Fermin Diez at the Private Museum, Singapore, from 27 March to 10 May. Other painters in the exhibition include Cheong Soo Pieng, Chua Mia Tee, Lim Cheng Hoe, Tong Chin Sye, Tan Choh Tee, Siew Hock Meng, Tay Bak Koi, Chen Wen Hsi, Thomas Yeo, Ang Ah Tee, Ong Kim Seng, Lim Tze Peng, Leng Joon Wong, Loy Chye Chuan, Gog Sing Hooi and Seah Kim Joo.
2021
The Malaysian Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong and Macau Limited (MAYCHAM) organises a solo retrospective, Nature as Teacher and Model, at the Penthouse of the Malaysia Building, Hong Kong, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Yong's birth.
2023
Together with Michael Yong-Haron and Saniza Othman, NAFA organises Yong Mun Sen in Nanyang, a major exhibition of works by Yong Mun Sen, featuring long-running research of the artist and his practice, a visual narrative of his explorations in watercolour, oil, ink and photography that collectively defines his journey and vision of Nanyang. This exhibition is in conjunction with NAFA’s 85th anniversary celebrations. It is open to the public from 11 February to 7 May 2023.