FACULTY :

ART & DESIGN

PROGRAMME:
DIPLOMA IN ART AND DESIGN (FASHION DESIGN)
AD116
COURSE :
VCS 265 : CONTEMPORARY ART AND DESIGN IN MALAYSIA
TOPIC :
WEDNESDAY ART GROUP
STUDENT NAME :
MOHD ZAHRUL AKMAL BIN KAMARUZAMAN
KHAIRUNNISA BINTI ABDUL RAHMAN

2013875084 FD Q
2013277122 FD Q

LECTURER NAME :
MADAM SITI NURAIN ISMA BINTI ABU BAKAR

Content
Introduction of Malaysian Contemporary Art

Page 3

Wednesday Art Group

Page 4

Theme of Wednesday Art Group

Page 5

The Objective of Wednesday Art Group

Page 6

Main Activity of Wednesday Art Group

Page 7

Painting Style of Wednesday Art Group

Page 8

Members of Wednesday Art Group

Page 9

Peter Harris

Page 10-12

Cheong Laitong

Page 13-14

Patrick Ng Kah Onn

Page 15-16

Jolly Koh

Page 17-18

Dzulkifli Buyong

Page 19-20

Ismail Mustam

Page 21-22

Syed Ahmad Jamal

Page 23-24

The Basic Philosophy of Wednesday Art Group

Page 25

Conclusion

Page 26

Introduction of Malaysian Contemporary art

The history of Malaysian contemporary art dates back to the many decades.
While Malaysia has a rich cultural background, its crafts and arts are already wellknown around the region which have been passed down for generations. However, the
area of contemporary art is more recent where among the earliest work of art came
through from people like Yong Mun Sen, Khaw Sia, Abdullah Ariff and the likes of
Kuo Ju Ping.

Wednesday Art Group

Established in 1952 , in Kuala Lumpur, and was founded by Peter Harris. The
Wednesday Art Group, are a group of people keen on art and who meet up each Wednesday
10am to 12 noon at the Art Centre. The group currently has places available. If you are
interested and no matter what your level of experience then come along and join them. There
is no teacher and everyone can do whatever interests them. We all support each other, share
ideas, as well as socialize.

Theme of Wednesday Art Group

Art as a means of self-expression'

The Objective of Wednesday Art Group

Introducing aesthetics, way of painting , and painting tools and new media to members.

Main Activity of Wednesday Art Group

The main activities are met on every Wednesday and Saturday for drawing the human
body ( figuratist ) , composition and role play.

Painting Style of Wednesday Art Group

4

Various flow impressionist , post - impressionist style of its own

Members of Wednesday Art Group

Peter Harris
Cheong Laitong
Patrick Ng Kah Onn
Jolly Koh
Anthony Lau
Dzulkifli Buyong
Ismail Mustam
Syed Ahmad Jamal
5

Peter Harris

Peter Barton Harold Harris, was born 1923, died 2009. He was the first art superintendent in
Malaya from 1951 to 1960. He founded the Wednesday Art Group in 1952, whose members
included Syed Ahmad Jamal, Patrick Ng, Dzulkifli Buyong, Cheong Lai Tong, Ismail
Mustam, Jolly Koh and others.

Peter Harris seminal founder of the Wednesday Art Group (WAG) in 1952, passed
away on 14 March 2009. The Wednesday Art Group counted amongst its members Patrick
Ng Kah Onn, Dzulkifli Buyong, Cheong Lai Tong as well as Syed Ahmad Jamal, who are
modern art pioneers in Malaya. Reading an old WAG catalogue/annual report I found in a
musty corner of the VWFA resource room training, their unschooled approach to art was
driven purely by passion and personal interest. This much was emphasised in the written
6

literature. People dropped in and out of Peter Harriss wednesday art classes, many were
dabblers but of those that stuck around, a number of them have become recognisable figures
in the history of modern art in Malaysia. Tells us quite a bit about what can transpire with a
lot of zeal thrown in it.

Esther

Young girl with ball

In 1996, he was rediscovered by Yeoh Jin Leng, and he was invited to participate at
the "Wednesday Art Group. Then and Now' exhibition at Galeriwan in Kuala Lumpur. He
was given a solo exhibition at Galeriwan the next year. In 1991, my father managed to get
him to come for a solo exhibition at our gallery, The Art Gellery Penang from 7 - 31 January.
The exhibition was accompanied by a 48 page catalogue, which included his autobiography.

Morning market
Unfortunately, my mother, Mrs Tan Siau Bian (who passed away in November 2001) became
very ill with leukemia in September 2000. She was hospitalised for one year at Singapore
General Hospital for stem cell therapy. My father, my brother and I took turns to keep her
company in Singapore. I was spending half a week in Penang looking after the gallery, and
the rest of the week in Singapore.

Penang Water Tower

So I was able to spend some time with Peter who stayed in Hotel 1926, Penang for a week.
He arrived in Penang just in time for the official opening, which was officiated by Dato'
Chuah Thean Teng (Teng). He said that he was happy to be back in Penang, but the journey
made him "almost half dead due to his creaky old bones". After that, we took him to visit
Teng's gallery at Batu Ferringhi. We were fortunate to spend time with him at his hotel, and
we took him to various food stalls where he loved to study the faces of people walking by
or eating.

Cheong Laitong

Cheong Laitong Was born on 1932 in Guangzhou, China. Skowhagen School of

Printing and Sculpture in Maine, USA (USIS Exchange of Scholarship). Served as the
Creative Director Rothmans of Pall Mall (Malaysia) between 1963-1992. Was Regional
Creative Director Rothmans International for the Asia Pacific region from 1992-1995.

Playing Marbels

Memujuk

Patrick Ng Kah Onn

10

Was born in 1932 at Kuala Lumpur and was died in 1989 at London.
Has own exhibition in 1963 at British Council, Kuala Lumpur
Get first education in 1964 at Hammer Smith College of Art, London
He auction his artwork Featured in KL Auction s since 2010 (June).

The Spirit of Earth Fire and Water

Washing the Cloth

Dry the Cloth

11

Jolly Koh

Born in Singapore 1941.

In 1959 1962 he first education at Hornsey College of Art, London, UK
Last education in 1972 1975 at Indiana University, U.S.A. Ed.D. (Doctor of
Education)
1963 first teaching at Art Teacher, Muar High School, Johor.
In 2000/04 be Senior Lecturer, MSC College (now SEGi College, KL).

12

The Path

Terang Bulan

Big Dipper

Fan Fern

Dzulkifli Buyong

13

Was born in 1948 at Kuala Lumpur.

Was called anak berbakat luar biasa while studying at the Victoria Institution, Kuala
Lumpur .

Being famous and revered since a young age .

Get guidance from Patrick Ng Kah Onn , Wednesday Art Group and formal art
education at the Institute Teknologi Mara.

His artwork using pastel chalk media .

14

At the age of 16 years he has won various awards including a gold medal from the
Queen Raja Tengku Ismail Tengku Budriahdan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra
Al - Haj.

When the age of 17 years he won third place in the National Poster Drawing Contest.

Budak Sekolah

Membakar Semut

Kelambu

Menyisir Rambut

Ismail Mustam
15

Ismail Mustam
Was born at Sungai Air Tawar, Selangor on 1944
Youngest member in Wednesday Art Group and learn drawing from Patrick Ng Kah
Onn
Have make mural for
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka
Malay Youth Hostel Association
United Malayan Banking Corporation di Bangkok

16

Hang Tuah Hang Jebat

Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka Mural

Ribut

Syed Ahmad Jamal

17

Born in 19 September 1929 at Bandar Maharani, Johor

In 1995 ,he was awarded Hadiah Seni Negara by State of the Art Associations.
World painting homeland since the 30s to the 50s dominated the conventional style,
Realist, Impressionist and Expressionist.
On July 30, 2011, he died at the age of 82 at his home in Gombak, Selangor.

Hujan Rahmat

18

The Bait

Soal Palestin

Sirih Pinang

The Basic Philosophy of Wednesday Art Group

It has been said that the fundamental philosophical counsellor sown has become a
major force in the arts in Malaysia.

19

Conclusion
We as artists or art researchers should appreciate local artists, as the brand is
showing that there is beauty in God's creation and the earth should we need to take a
lesson and also need to take their work as a reference or inspiration to express our
very buffering local artworks.

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