Datuk Chong Hon Fatt

Here I am with Datuk Chong Hon Fatt (left) (5 September 2016)


Datuk Chong Hon Fatt is a famous artist and oil painter from Penang. He has held numerous solo as well as group exhibitions on the local, national and international level. Datuk Chong is famous for the many oil paintings he did of local sights, from cityscapes to landscapes and country scenes.

Chong is heavily involved in shaping the local art scene. He was the founder member of the Penang Watercolour Society in 1985. Before that, he served as Chairman of the Chung Ling Art Society in 1959-60. He also served under various capacities with the Penang Art Society, Japan Modern Art Association and Art Grup Penang.

Chong has published a number of books related to art. The first, titled simply as Oil Painting, was self-published in 1997. Other titles by Chong Han Fatt include Penang Heritage Buildings, PENANG (The Clan Jetties), Kuala Lumpur (Cityscapes), Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, the Heritage Jewel of Penang, and Chong Hon Fatt Retrospective, which is published by the Penang State Art Gallery. Many of Chong's paintings have also been used by various corporations for their calendars including Kelang Container Terminal, Malaysia Smelting Corporation, Kontena Nasional, China Press, ExxonMobil and Kwang Wah Yit Poh.

Chong's artwork is now in the public collection of numerous bodies and individuals including the National Art Gallery, Prime Minister's Office, HRH The Sultan of Kedah, Prince of Songkhla University, to name some. He has appeared on television a number of times, having been interviewed by RTM TV1, Yongjia Television China, Wuxi Television China and Tai Shan Television China.

Chong has received numerous awards and honors over the decades. He was bestowed the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (D.S.P.N.) title from the Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri on 17 August, 2016. The award carries the title of Datuk. I had the pleasure of meeting Datuk Chong at his gallery recently.

Datuk Chong Hon Fatt (left) and I, with some of his paintings (5 September 2016)


Here I am with Datuk Chong Hon Fatt paintings (5 September 2016)


Datuk Chong Hon Fatt (right) with local art patron and enthusiast Tan Chor Whye (5 September 2016)


Datuk Chong Hon Fatt is particularly proud of the set of painting he did of the construction of the Second Penang Bridge . He had his own VIP helmet and admission pass to the construction site, and even the key to unlock the gate. (5 September 2016)

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