YEOH KEAN THAI      (b.1966   Malaysia)

Thai, for a significant part of his aesthetic career, has documented processes of disruption, corruption and manipulation of environment. His focus on the visual consequences has created an aesthetic language that adeptly articulates concerns for environment and society from current and historical perspectives.

Thai uses SE Asian metal iconography to tell his story and those, (political, economic and traditional), of the people who and cultures that impact him. More universally familiar metal objects have been recently introduced to comment on local and global issues- current, historical and contingent.

In the earliest series, ('Rustic Evolution', 'Man, Relation to Rust'), Thai presented man-made objects, grouped against neutral backgrounds. This juxtaposition turned the images into pictorialisms – with exaggerated stains, defects and metal discolourations.

In later series, (‘Oxidation & Corrosion’, ‘Exposed’, ‘Reaction to Surrounding' and 'Manipulated Form'), he explored techniques of depicting rust and structural mass in stages of decay, with minimal colour palettes and somber hues. In later works, vivid colours were incorporated. Toying with differing visual techniques, he continues to investigate the reactions of his audience. In Links, the aesthetics of deterioration employ two dimensional perspectives and more linear textures - incorporating the simple use of links - from fences and chains - to make connections with imprisonment of body/mind, restricted choices and a captive earth.

He continues to grapple with these concepts, introducing historical study to emphasize depth, cycle, and continuum.

“What should ‘development’ entail – and what priorities should it encompass? What is it? There is no straightforward answer in light of numerous competing interests. But the power of METAL and RUST is that they have been wonderful visual vehicles for telling my story, my country's story, and expressing my concerns and findings.” Yeoh Kean Thai

Selected Portfolio

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BIODATA

Awards

2008		Freeman Fellowship Award, Vermont Studio Center, USA
2005		Honourable Prize, Tashkent Biennale 2005
1999		Honourable Mention, Philip Morris Malaysia Art Awards
1997		Winner, Philip Morris Malaysia Art Awards
1996		Honourable Mention, Philip Morris Malaysia Art Awards

Major Exhibitions

2008		International Asian Art Fair, Park Avenue,  New York,  through SGFA  The Private Gallery Paths of Thought, Gallery Il Ramo d’oro, Naples, Italy Vision of East Asia, Ministry of Culture of China for the Olympics, Beijing, China Crossing, solo exhibition at SGFA The Private Gallery
2007		Links, solo exhibition at SGFA The Private Gallery
2006		Malaysian Watercolour Society 2006, KL Kerja Kertas Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Malaysia
2005		Malaysian Watercolor Society Show, KL Tashkent Biennale 2005 International Exhibition, Uzbekistan
2004		“Capturing the Flow" Installation, Gallery Petronas The 22nd Korea New Art Festival, Seoul, South Korea
2003		Metamorphosis Lantern Installation Aoyama Gallery, Gallery Petronas, OIC and KL Sentral New Forest Installation, National Art Gallery, Malaysia Korea New Painting International Exhibition, Seoul, South Korea
2002		Set New Concept Art Exhibition, The Art Gallery, KL
2001		Malaysia Open Show 2001, National Art Gallery, Malaysia
2000		WWF Art For Nature III, Islamic Museum, KL
1999		Aku (“I”) , Self Portrait Exhibition, Gallery Petronas, KL
1998		Philip Morris Asean Art Exhibition Tour, Singapore Art Museum & Brunei Museum Recent Acquisitions 1995-1998 Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Malaysia
1997		Philip Morris Malaysian Art Competition/ Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Malaysia Philip Morris Malaysian Asean Art Award/ Exhibition, National Art Gallery, Malaysia Metropolitan Museum of Manila, Philippines
1996		Philip Morris Malaysian Art Competition/ Exhibition, National Gallery, Malaysia Bakat Muda Sezaman 1996, National Gallery, Malaysia
1994		Shah Alam Open Show '94, Gallery Shah Alam Pameran Seni Lukis Isu Bosnia, Gallery Petronas, KL Kenyir Eco-Fest Art Exhibition, Malaysia & Singapore Exhibition Tour Malaysian Open, Gallery Petronas, KL East Meets West, West Meets East Exhibition, Maybank Gallery, KL
1993		Johore Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition, J.B. Hokkien Association
1992		Watercolor exhibition, Pusat Seni Warna Utama, Klang Traditional Boat Exhibition, Gallery Shah Alam Greening the World Persekutuan Pelukis Malaysia, Maybank Gallery, KL 23rd KLCA Fine Art Graduation Show, KLCA Gallery Shah Alam Open Show '92 Gallery Shah Alam

Significant collections

National Art Gallery, Malaysia; HSBC (Malaysia); Central Bank of Malaysia; Siemens International; numerous private international collections.